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I  0, 

EARLY  HISTORY  ' 


THE  DISCIPLES 


IN  THE 


Western  Reserve,  Ohto; 


Biographical  Sketches  of  the  Principal  Agents  in  their 
Religious  Movement. 


BY 

A.  S.  HAYDEN 


CINCINNATI: 
CHASE  &  HALL,  PUBLISHERS. 
1875. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 
CHASE  &  HALL, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D. 


STEREOTYPED  AT  THE 
FRANK  I. IN*  TYPE  FOUNDRY, 
CINCINNATI. 


PREFACE. 


HE  beginning  of  the  second  quarter  of  the  nineteentn 


century  is  memorable  as  the  period  when  a  new  and 
powerful  religious  awakening  began  in  North-eastern  Ohio. 
The  Western  Reserve  was  the  principal  theater  of  this  be- 
nign work.  In  recording  the  history  of  this  revival,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  trace  the  origin  of  the  movement ; 
to  describe  its  character,  its  spirit,  and  its  aims ;  to  note 
the  principal  events  which  attended  its  origin  and  prog- 
ress; and,  in  turn,  to  consider  this  remarkable  outburst 
of  Christian  zeal  and  activity  in  its  relation  to  the  future, 
as  the  direct  and  potent  cause  of  succeeding  develop- 
ments in  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

This  movement  was  so  unexpected,  so  rapid,  so  gen- 
eral, and  accompanied  by  many  incidents  and  events  so 
peculiar,  as  to  stamp  the  phenomenon  with  the  clearest 
indications  of  a  providential  visitation  of  great  mercy  to 
the  world.  Many  of  its  first  advocates  were  plain,  un- 
pretending men,  called  unexpectedly  to  the  front,  and 
urged  forward  by  the  resistless  impulses  of  the  work  it- 
self. Some  of  these  men  exhibited  fine  oratorial  powers. 
They  have  left  their  impress  durably  on  a  wide  and 
growing  society.  Brief  biographical  sketches  of  the  prin- 
cipal early  actors  in  the  scenes  to  pass  before  the  reader 
can  not  fail  to  be  interesting  to  him.  They  will  also 
constitute  an  important  part  of  the  record  of  the  times. 

Great  care  has  been  bestowed  on  the  accuracy  of  every 
statement,  both  of  date  and  incident;  a  branch  of  duty 


(iii) 


iv 


PREFACE. 


often  laborious,  requiring  the  collation  of  many  docu- 
ments, and'  the  reconciliation  of  conflicting  testimonies. 

Many  persons  yet  remaining  of  the  generation  herein 
chiefly  described,  will  find  in  these  pages  events  with  which 
they  are  personally  familiar.  The  young  will  discover  in 
the  same  pages  the  planting  and  establishment  of  principles 
of  religious  reform  which  are  now  providentially  com- 
mitted to  their  trust,  and  which,  in  their  faithful  hands, 
are  yet,  we  hope,  to  be  developed  into  yet  fairer  sym- 
metry and  greater  perfection  of  individual  Christian  char- 
acter, and  higher  Church  order  and  activity. 

As  far  as  possible  the  whole  work  has  been  brought  within 
the  following  plan  : 

1.  A  sketch  of  the  condition  of  religious  society  at  the 
opening  of  the  work. 

2.  A  short  account  of  the  agencies  by  which  it  was  ac- 
complished. 

3.  A  history  of  the  work  itself. 

4.  Biographical  notices  of  the  principal  actors. 

A.  S.  H. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Preface,   .3 

Western  Reserve  :  History  and  Description,    .      .  .13 

CHAPTER  I. 

Preliminary  agencies — Debate  between  A.  Campbell  and  John 
Walker — Discussion  with  W.  L.  McCalla — The  Christian 
Baptist — Visit  of  Bentley  and  Rigdon — The  Mahoning 
Association :  its  constitution  and  its  creed — The  Associa- 
tion in  Canfield.  1826 — Eminent  preachers — Notable  ser- 
mon by  A.  Campbell — Sketch  of  Elder  Thomas  Campbell — 
Biography  of  A.  Campbell,       .       .       .       .  .18 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Association  in  New  Lisbon,  1827 — Call  for  an  evangel- 
ist— Ministers  of  the  Christian  Connection — Walter  Scott 
chosen — Biography  of  Scott — Among  the  churches — Quar- 
terly meeting  in  Braceville — Ministers  consulting  on  mo- 
mentous questions,  54 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  plea  opened  in  New  Lisbon :  struggles  and  success — The 
first  convert — Co-operating  agencies — John  Secrest,  Joseph 
Gaston — Wm.  Schooley — Death  of  Gaston — John  Whit- 
acre,   .  72 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Origin  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Warren — Biography  of  A.  Bent- 
ley — The  "Siege  of  Warren" — J.  G.  Mitchell — Stirring 
events — Sketch  of  Cyrus  Bosworth — East  Fairfield — Quar- 
terly Meeting — Death  of  Mitchell — The  Church  in  Lords- 
town,   91 

(v) 


vi 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

I  AGS. 

The  reformation  in  Salem — Opposition  on  the  alert — A  divis- 
ion— Origin  of  the  "  Phillips  "  Church — Rise  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  North-west  Canfield — The  transition — Anec- 
dotes—  Myron  Sacket  —  Austintown  —  The  remnant  of 
"Zoar" — Notice  of,  by  Scott — Visit  by  Bentley  ;  conver- 
sion of  John  Henry — Great  success — A.  Raines  and  the 
Universalists — Formation  of  the  church — Sketch  of  Henry 
— Origin  of  the  church  in  Braceville  and  Newton  Falls — 
Ministers'  meetings — Biography  of  Marcus  Bosworth — 
Church  on  New  Testament  principles — Life  of  Jacob  Os- 
borne,      .       .       .       .       .       .       .       .       .  .116 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Success  of  Scott  in  Windham — The  church  founded — Elder  T. 
Campbell's  visit  to  the  Western  Reserve — Biographies  of 
A.  Raines  and  E.  Williams,  and  history  of  their  conver- 
sion— A  church  planted  in  Freedom,         ....  142 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Association  in  Warren,  1828 — Great  expectations — Wisdom 
of  Mr.  Campbell  in  the  introductory  sermon — Discussion 
on  the  reception  of  Raines — Excitement — Principles  of 
union  settled — Scott's  circular — He  is  reappointed — Wm. 
Hayden  selected  as  his  associate — Biography  of  Hayden — 
Expectation  of  the  Millennium,       .....  161 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  church  in  Mentor — Of  Baptist  origin — Great  overturn  un- 
der Bentley  and  Rigdon — The  first  convert — The  work  ex- 
tends to  Kirtland  and  Painesville — Progresses  into  Waite 
Hill— Biography  of  M.  S.  Clapp— Sketch  of  Violl,  Miller, 
Dexter  Otis — Alvin  Waite — R.  Storm — Church  on  the 
plains — The  cause  established  in  the  town  of  Willoughby,  191 


CHAPTER 
The  advent  of  Mormonism, 


IX. 


209 


CONTENTS. 


vii 


CHAPTER  X. 

PAGE. 

The  principles  of  reform  in  Chardon — Origin  of  the  Baptist 
Church — Bible  investigation — Calvinistic  theory  of  conver- 
sion— Nathan  Porter — William  Collins,  biography  of — 
Church  established  on  King  Street — Early  preachers — 
Moved  to  the  "Square" — Pastors — Rise  of  the  church  in 
Munson — Labors  of  Collins,  Hartzel,  and  others — Great 
success  of  Dr.  Robison — Notice  of  O.  Gates — J.  G.  Cole- 
man, Allen  Harper — Firm  home  guards — The  cause  es- 
tablished in  Burton,  223 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Origin  of  the  churches  in  Mantua,  Hiram,  and  Garrettsville — 
J.  Rudolph,  Sr. — Labors  of  Elder  T.  Campbell — Symonds 
Rider — Conflicts  with  Mormonism — Ordination  of  D.  At- 
water  and  Z.  Rudolph — Sketch  of  the  church  in  Mantua — 
Obituary  of  Darwin  Atwater — Biogrr.phy  of  Rider — Ser- 
mon by  President  Hinsdale,  with  sketch  of  the  church  in 
Hiram — Church  in  Garrettsville — Successes — Origin  and 
establishment  of  the  Eclectic  Institute,     ....  237 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Association  in  Sharon,  1829 — Founding  of  the  church  by 
T.  Campbell,  Scott,  and  Bentley — Pour  evangelists  chosen: 
Scott,  Hayden,  Bentley,  and  Bosworth — System  of  evan- 
gelizing— Hubbard  Baptist  Church  in  transition — Jesse 
Hall — Sketch  of  John  Applegate — A  living  church — Be- 
zetta  on  Baptist  principles — The  ground  contested — The 
reformation  wins — Labors  of  Elder  T.  Campbell — Edward 
Scofield — Yearly  Meeting — John  T.  Phillips — The  evan- 
gelic Smith  :  biography  of  him,        .....  267 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Great  meeting  in  Austintown,  1830 — The  Association  dissolved 
— Origin  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  system — North  Bloomfield 
— The  union  experiment — Benj.  Alton — Church  formed — 
Reorganized — Successes  under  Isaac  Errett — Ministers  fol- 
lowing— Farmington  :  church  formed  by  Alton — Harvey 


Viii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Brockett,  conversion  and  biography — Other  helps — Church 

in  Green — W.  Bartlett— E.  Wakefield,     .       .       .  .295 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Primitive  Christianity  in  Deerfield  —  Investigations  —  Light 
breaking  in— Sketch  of  E.  B.  Hubbard — Experience  of 
Jonas  Hartzel — The  Disciples  uniting  on  New  Testament 
principles — Visit  of  Bentley  and  Bosworth — Scott  arrives — 
Great  Sermon — Captains  Allerton  and  Rogers — Allerton's 
labors — Ground  of  stability — Experiences  of  Rev.  John 
Schaeffer — He  accepts  the  union  principles  and  abandons 
Lutheranism,    .       .       .       .       .       .       .       .       .  311 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Palmyra:  spiritual  declension — Church  formed  by  Scott  and 
Hayden  —  Shalersville  —  Opening  found  —  Occupied  by 
Hayden — The  Disciples  called  together — Yearly  Meetings 
— Anecdotes — Brockett's  work — C.  C.  Foot — T.  J.  New- 
comb — Labors  of  A.  B.  Green  and  W.  A.  Belding — Ran- 
dolph—  Deacon  Churchill  —  Church  raised  up — Great 
Yearly  Meeting,  1832 — Report  of  it  by  Hayden,       .       .  332 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  awakening  in  Perry — Charge  of  heresy — D.  Parmly  the 
victim — Rigdon's  zeal — The  Church  built  on  the  Rock — 
A.  Saunders— R.  Veits— E.  H.  Webb— Other  helps— 
Painesville — Preparatory  work — Church  organized  by  E. 
Williams  and  A.  Saunders — Wise  builders — Pastors — A 
good  record — Pillars  fallen,       ......  346 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Middlebury  and  Akron — The  plea  begun  by  Hubbard  and  Hay- 
den— Bosworth  comes — Opposition  and  debate — M.  L.  Wil- 
cox and  Graham — Vaughan's  defection — The  work  revived 
by  two  sisters — Struggles — "Millerism" — The  church  re- 
established— Great  meeting  by  Henry — Anecdote — Labor- 
ers in  the  vineyard — A  new  organization  in  Middlebury — 


CONTENTS.  ix 

PAGE. 

Mogadore — Heralds  of  the  glad  tiding — Church  arises — 
Opposition  and  method  of  silencing  it — Yearly  Meetings — 
Good  example — Wadsworth — Elder  O.  Newcomb — A.  B. 
Green — Hayden's  visits — Church  springs  up — Great  Meet- 
ing in  Esquire  Eyles'  Barn — Mr.  Campbell's  candor  and 
success — Advance  movements — Yearly  Meeting,  1835 — 
Anecdotes — Opposition:  how  met — A  mother  of  preach- 
er,  -355 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Prelude  of  the  reformation  in  Ravenna — Conversion  of  E.  Will- 
iams— Bosworth  comes — Hayden  follows,  and  forms  the 
church — Helps — Self-reliance  of  the  members — Infidelity 
abounding — Arrival  of  Campbell — Court  adjourns  to  hear 
him — Demonstrative  Sermon — Anecdotes — F.  Williams — 
Chas.  Judd — The  church  established  in  the  village — Suc- 
cession of  pastors — Obituary  of  S.  McBride — Aurora — The 
ground  pre-empted  for  Christ — Bold  Invasion — Concurring 
helps  of  Bosworth,  Bentley,  and  Henry — The  Converts 
collected — A  grove  meeting — Mr.  Campbell's  Eloquence — 
Yearly  Meeting  in  1834 — C.  Forward — Incidents — House 
burned  and  rebuilt — Preachers  aiding — Anecdotes — The 
campaign  begins  in  Stowe — Opposition — It  stimulates  the 
defense — The  work  extending  to  Franklin  and  Hudson.    .  369 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Origin  of  the  church  in  Bedford — Gaining  Strength — First 
Yearly  Meeting,  1839 — Memorable  sermon  by  A.  Camp- 
bell— Other  great  assemblies — Henry  and  Jones — Dr.  J.  P. 
Robison — Correspondence — Chas.  F.  Bartlett,  obituary — 
Preachers  who  arose  in  Bedford — J.  O.  Beardslee — Head- 
quarters of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Ch.  Missionary 
Society — Succession  of  hetpers — The  light  dawning  on 
Newburg — E.  Williams'  success — Church  formed  by  Hay- 
den— Interesting  conversions — Grove  meeting  on  Col. 
Wightman's  farm,  1835 — Exciting  incidents — Church  re- 
organized by  Hartzell — Succeeding  labors  of  J.  D.  Bene- 
dict and  J.  H.  Jones — A  flourishing  Sunday-school — Inci- 
dents of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1835 — Anecdote,     .       .  387 


X 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Euclid  (Collamer) — Door  opened — Luther  Dille  and  Mrs. 
Clarissa  Dille — A.  P.  Jones — Rigdon  comes — And  Collins 
— The  happy  deacon — Church  organized  by  Elder  T. 
Campbell — J.  J.  Moss — W.  O'Connor — Immense  Yearly 
Meeting,  1837 — Coming  of  Henry — The  captains  captured 
— Centralizing  in  Collamer — A.  S.  Hayden  among  them — 
Subsequent  history — Cleveland — How  Hayden  came,  and 
who  invited  him — The  young  preachers — The  old  acad- 
emy— A.  Campbell  in  the  court-house — He  silences  the 
infidels — The  way  opened  for  Henry — His  success,  and 
formation  of  the  church — Other  helpers — Jones,  Robison, 
Collins,  Hayden — Change  of  location — Succession  of  pas- 
tors— East  Cleveland — A  Fourth-of-July  meeting — Dr.  N. 
H.  Finney  a  convert — Chief  supports — New  church  edifice 
—Success — Pastors,  ....  ...  408 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Royalton — John  B.  Stewart — Edward  Scofield — Light  from  the 
"Christian  Baptist" — E.  Leonard  brings  Wm.  Hayden — 
The  "church"  closed,  and  the  blacksmith-shop  opened — 
Charter  members — Anecdotes — Intense  interest — Co-oper- 
ating agents — Wm.  Moody — His  experience  and  adoption 
of  the  principles  of  Christian  union — Raises  up  a  church 
in  Lafayette — A  pleasing  conversion — Continued  pros- 
perity of  the  church  in  Royalton — The  Gospel  brought  into 
Granger  and  Ghent — Hayden,  Wilcox,  and  P.  Green — 
Obituary  of  Wilcox — The  church  in  Pompey  Street,  Bruns- 
wick— Sketch  of  J.  W.  Lanphear — The  church  established 
at  Hamilton  Corners,  424 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Arrival  of  Bentley  in  the  vicinity  of  Chagrin  Falls — The  church 
arises — First  officers — Hayden  preaches  on  the  hay-scales — 
The  church  located  in  Chagrin  Falls — Opposition  arising — 
A  debate — Excitement  and  results — Strength  in  the  local 
members — Lectures  by  Isaac  Errett — Infidelity  defiant — 
Discussion,    Garfield   and    Denton — Favorable    result — 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGE. 

Yearly  meetings — Succession  of  overseers,  deacons,  and 
preachers — The  sainted  dead — A  call  from  North  Eaton — 
The  church  planted  by  M.  J.  Streator — Incidents — L.  Cooley 
— Opposition — Colony  in  Bloomingdale,  Michigan — Dedi- 
cations— Three  great  meetings — The  church  in  Youngstown 
— Early  agencies — Discussions  :  Hartzel,  Waldo,  and  Sted- 
man — Mr.  Campbell's  interview  with  Rev.  Boardman — 
Corrects  public  prejudice — Lanphear,  first  pastor — Great 
yearly  meeting,  1843 — Prof.  Anthon's  testimony,  in  corres- 
pondence with  Dr.  E.  Parmly — Succeeding  helps — Pros- 
perity— A  new  church  edifice,  ......  438 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Lessons  of  our  Forty  Years'  Experience.  Position  stated 
— Its  clearness  and  strength — Purpose  explained — The 
Second  Lesson  stated,  the  due  adjustment  of  the  Evangel- 
ical and  Pastoral  work — The  Third  Lesson,  from  planting 
too  many  small  churches — The  cause  of  the  weakness  and 
decay  of  some — Illustration  from  Episcopacy — Our  experi- 
ence points  to  better  methods — The  Fourth  Lesson,  the 
want  of  Records — Extremes  of  some  Reformers — The 
Fifth  Lesson,  the  importance  of  union  of  effort — Character 
of  the  Yearly  Meeting  system — Efforts  for  concert  of  ac- 
tion, and  their  failure — Illustration  from  the  Eclectic  Insti- 
tute— The  final  Lesson,  "  Preach  the  Word,"    .       .       .  454 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

An  abbreviated  account  of  churches  omitted,  or  recently  or- 
ganized— Alliance —  Auburn  —  Bazetta,  West  —  Birming- 
ham— Brookfield —  Bristol,  North  —  Camden  —  Chester — 
Denmark — Edinburg — Elyria — Fairfield,  North — Fowler — 
Footeville — Geneva — Hamden —  Huntsburg--  Hamilton's 
Corners  —  Hartsgrove —  Hartford  —  Hinkley  —  Jackson, 
North — Little  Mountain — Middlebury — Montville — Mor- 
gan— Niles — Norton — Orange,  North — Orange,  South — 
Russell  —  Solon  —  Southington  —  Thompson  — Trumbull, 
East — Warrensville,  465 


The  following  resolutions,  moved  by  Pres't.  B.  A, 
Hinsdale,  were  passed  unanimously  by  the  Western 
Reserve  Christian  Preachers'  Association,  held  in 
Ravenna,  Portage  Co.,  Nov.  7,  8,  and  9,  1871. 
There  were  twenty-two  preachers  present : 

Whereas,  It  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  the  chronicles 
of  the  Western  Reserve  churches  should  be  written :  and 

Whereas,  Bro.  A.  S.  Hayden  is  preeminently  the  man 
to  write  them  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  affectionately  request  Bro.  Hayden 
to  undertake  this  work ;  and  in  case  he  consents,  we  ur- 
gently press  upon  him  the  desirability  of  its  being  under- 
taken as  speedily,  and  prosecuted  as  rapidly,  as  his  other 
engagements  may  permit. 

Resolved,  That  we  pledge  to  Bro.  Hayden,  who  has  for 
years  been  collecting  material  for  such  a  work,  our  united 
cooperation  and  moral  support  in  his  undertaking. 

A.  B.  Green,  Pres't,  of  the  Association. 


H.  J.  White,  Sec. 


THE  WESTERN  RESERVE: 


HISTORY  AND  DESCRIPTION. 


AS  we  shall  have  frequent  occasion  to  refer  to  the 
Western  Reserve  in  the  course  of  the  following 
work,  we  give  here  a  brief  description  and  historic 
account  of  it.  This  notice  is  collected  from  several 
sources,  and  presented  somewhat  abridged. 

This  district  of  country,  also  called  Connecticut 
Western  Reserve,  and  New  Connecticut,  is  situated 
in  the  north-east  part  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake  Erie,  east  by  Penn- 
sylvania, south  by  the  41st  parallel  of  north  latitude, 
and  on  the  west  by  Sandusky  and  Seneca  counties. 
It  extends  120  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  aver- 
ages about  50  from  north  to  south.  Its  greatest 
breadth  is  at  the  east  end,  extending  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania line  68  miles.  The  area  includes  about 
3,000,000  acres.  It  embraces  the  following  counties, 
viz. :  Ashtabula,  Trumbull,  north  part  of  Mahoning, 
Lake,  Geauga,  Portage,  Cuyahoga,  Summit,  Medina, 
Lorain,  Erie,  and  Huron. 

Connecticut  became  possessed  of  the  land  in 
question  in  the  following  manner :  King  Charles  II. 
of  England,  pursuing  the  example  of  other  sover- 
eigns, granted  to  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  in  1662, 
a  charter-right  to  all  lands  in  the  new  world  included 
within  certain  specified  limits.    But  as  the  geo- 

(xiii) 


14  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


graphical  knowledge  of  Europeans  concerning  Amer- 
ica was  very  limited  and  confused,  patents  for  lands 
often  interfered  with  each  other,  and  many  of  them, 
by  their  express  terms,  extended  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  or  mythical  "South  Sea,"  which  the  Pacific 
Ocean  was  thought  to  be.  Among  the  rest,  that  for 
Connecticut  embraced  all  lands  contained  between 
the  41st  and  42d  parallels  of  north  latitude,  and 
from  Providence  Plantations  on  the  east  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean  west,  with  the  exception  of  the  colonies  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania ;  and,  indeed,  preten- 
sions to  these  were  not  finally  relinguished  without 
considerable  altercation.  When  the  colonies,  as  the 
result  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  became  a  united  and 
independent  nation,  these  interfering  claims  occa- 
sioned much  collision  between  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment and  several  of  the  States  ;  with  no  one  more 
than  Connecticut.  Negotiations  were  pending  for 
several  years  before  a  compromise  was  finally  effected. 
In  September,  1786,  the  State  of  Connecticut  ceded 
to  the  United  States  her  claim,  both  of  soil  and  ju- 
risdiction, to  all  her  charter-lands  lying  west  of  the 
present  western  limits  of  the  "  Western  Reserve." 
On  the  30th  of  May,  1801,  she  also  ceded  her  juris- 
dictional claims  to  all  the  territory  called  the  "  West- 
ern Reserve  of  Connecticut,"  when,  in  fulfillment  of 
the  compact  then  formed,  the  President  conveyed,  by 
patent,  the  fee  of  the  soil  to  the  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  for  the  use  of  grantees  and 
purchasers  claiming  under  her.  This  tract,  includ- 
ing the  "Fire  Lands,"  by  a  proclamation  by  Gov. 
St.  Clair,  September  22,  1800,  was  all  erected  into 
one  county,  and  named  Trumbull,  in  honor  of  two 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


15 


successive  governors  of  Connecticut.  Of  this  mam- 
moth county  Warren  was  the  seat  of  justice. 

In  May,  1795,  the  Legislature  of  Connecticut  ap- 
pointed a  commission  to  issue  proposals  and  make 
sale  of  the  lands  she  had  "reserved"  in  the  North- 
west Territory,  afterward  Ohio.  This  committee  sold 
the  lands  to  sundry  citizens  of  that  State  and  of 
other  States.  In  September  of  that  year  the  title 
was  confirmed  to  the  purchasers  by  deeds  of  convey- 
ance. The  purchasers  proceeded  to  survey  into 
townships,  of  five  miles  square,  the  whole  of  this 
tract  lying  east  of  the  Cuyahoga,  the  Indians  still 
asserting  their  claims  to  the  portion  of  it  lying  west 
of  that  river.  By  a  treaty  with  them  at  Fort  In- 
dustry, near  Sandusky,  in  1805,  their  claim  was  fin- 
ally extinguished  in  favor  of  the  grantees  of  Con- 
necticut. 

The  State  of  Connecticut  sold  out  the  lands  to  the 
contractors  at  40  cents  per  acre,  receiving  for  the 
sale  one  million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
This  money,  permanently  invested,  constitutes  her 
school  fund.  The  State  gave  only  a  quit-claim  deed, 
transferring  only  such  title  as  she  possessed,  and 
leaving  all  the  Indian  titles  of  the  "Reserve"  to  be 
extinguished  by  the  purchasers. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1796,  the  first  surveying  party 
of  the  Western  Reserve  landed  at  the  mouth  of 
Conneaut  Creek — the  Plymouth  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve. Patriotic  sons  of  revolutionary  sires,  and 
some,  themselves,  the  participants  in  that  immortal 
struggle,  they  prepared  to  give  "  to  the  day  its  due, 
and  to  patriotism  its  awards."  With  their  tin  cups 
dipping  from  the  broad  lake  the  crystal  waters  with 


l6  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

which  to  pledge  the  national  honor,  with  the  ord- 
nance accompanyment  of  a  few  fowling-pieces,  they 
discharged  the  national  salute.  They  called  the 
place  Fort  Independence. 

"  A  cabin  was  erected  on  the  bank  of  Conneaut 
Creek,  and  in  honor  of  the  commissary  of  the  expe- 
dition, was  called  '  Stowe  Castle.'  At  this  time  the 
whole  inhabitants  west  of  the  "Genesee  River  and 
along  the  coasts  of  the  lakes,  were  as  follows  :  The 
garrison  at  Niagara,  two  families  at  Lewiston,  one  at 
Buffalo,  one  at  Cleveland,  and  one  at  Sandusky. 
There  were  no  other  families  east  of  Detroit,  and 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  adventurers  at  the  1  Salt 
Springs '  of  the  Mahoning,  the  interior  of  New  Con- 
necticut was  an  unbroken  wilderness. 

(t  The  work  of  surveying  was  commenced  at  once. 
One  party  went  southward  on  the  Pennsylvania  line 
to  find  the  41st  parallel,  and  began  to  survey; 
another,  under  Gen.  Cleaveland,  coasted  along  the 
lake  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga,  which  they 
reached  on  the  22d  of  July,  and  there  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  chief  city  of  the  Western  Reserve.  A 
large  portion  of  the  survey  was  made  during  that 
season,  and  the  work  was  completed  the  following 
year." 

The  surveying  party  numbered  fifty-two  persons, 
among  whom  were  two  females  and  one  child.  As 
these  individuals  were  the  advance  of  after  millions 
of  population,  their  names  become  worthy  of  record, 
and  are  therefore  given,  viz.  :  Moses  Cleaveland, 
agent  of  the  company  ;  Augustus  Porter,  principal 
surveyor;  Seth  Pease,  astronomer  and  surveyor; 
Moses   Warren,  Amos    Spafford,  Milton  Hawley, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


17 


Richard  M.  Stoddard,  surveyors;  Joshua  Stowe, 
commissary  ;  Theodore  Shepard,  physician  ;  Joseph 
Tinker,  principal  boatman  ;  Joseph  Mclntyre,  George 
Proudfoot,  Francis  Gay,  Samuel  Forbes,  Elijah 
Gunn,  wife  and  child,  Amos  Sawten,  Stephen  Benton, 
Amos  Barber,  Samuel  Hungerford,  William  B.  Hall, 
Samuel  Davenport,  Asa  Mason,  Amzi  Atwater, 
Michael  Coffin,  Elisha  Ayres,  Thomas  Harris,  Nor- 
man Wilcox,  Timothy  Dunham,  George  Goodwin, 
Shadrach  Benham,  Samuel  Agnew,  Warham  Shep- 
ard, David  Beard,  John  Bryant,  Titus  V.  Munson, 
Joseph  Landon,  Job  V.  Stiles  and  wife,  Charles 
Parker,  Ezekiel  Hawley,  Nathaniel  Doan,  Luke 
Hanchet,  James  Hasket,  James  Hamilton,  Olney  F. 
Rice,  John  Locke,  and  four  others  whose  names  are 
not  mentioned. 
2 


18 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  I. 


PRELIMINARY  AGENCIES. 


Debates  with  Walker  and  McCalla— The  Christian  Baptist— The 
Mahoning  Association — Creed  and  Constitution — Memorable 
Sermon  by  A.  Campbell — Biographies  of  Elder  Thomas  Camp- 
bell, and  of  A.  Campbell. 

A  MONG  the  causes  operating  to  bring  about  a 


-TjL  scriptural  reform  among  the  churches  on  the 
Western  Reserve,  the  following  chain  of  events 
claims  a  prominent  place : 

In  the  month  of  June,  1820,  a  discussion  was  held 
in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio,  between  A.  Campbell,  founder 
and  principal  of  the  Buffalo  Academy,  Va.,  and  Rev. 
John  Walker,  a  minister  of  acknowledged  ability 
among  the  Seceders.  The  discussion,  taken  down 
and  published,  was  a  marked  event  of  the  times. 
Mr.  Campbell  had  already  considerable  reputation  for 
scholarship  and  ability,  and  for  his  advocacy  of  the 
Christian  religion  as  unfolded  in  the  Bible,  as  distin- 
guished from  its  embodiment  in  the  creeds  and  denom- 
inationalism  of  the  day.  Some  of  the  more  cautious 
of  the  Baptist  ministers,  with  whom  he  then  had  a 
standing,  were  startled  by  the  boldness  and  novelty 
of  some  of  his  views,  especially  in  respect  to  the 
nature  and  claims  of  the  Law  of  Moses,  as  pro- 
pounded in  his  famous  sermon  on  that  subject  before 
the  Redstone  Association  in  18 16.    A  large  major- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  19 

ity,  however,  listened  to  his  views  and  reasonings 
with  instructed  approbation. 

Among  the  more  liberal  in  sentiment  was  Adam- 
son  Bentley,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Warren, 
Ohio.  He  had  read  the  debate  with  Walker.  Form- 
ing a  high  estimate  of  Mr.  Campbell's  powers,  and 
rightly  judging  that  God  had  raised  him  up  for  a 
great  work,  he  resolved  at  the  earliest  opportunity  to 
make  his  personal  acquaintance. 

A  providential  opportunity  soon  came  for  him  to 
fulfill  his  purpose.  Called  into  Kentucky  on  a  mis- 
sion for  the  churches,  he  returned  by  Mr.  Campbell's 
residence.  Sidney  Rigdon  was  with  him.  The  fol- 
lowing is  Mr.  Campbell's  account  of  their  interview: 

"  After  tea  in  the  evening,  we  commenced  and  pro- 
longed our  discourse  till  the  next  morning.  Beginning 
with  the  baptism  that  John  preached,  we  went  back  to 
Adam,  and  forward  to  the  judgment.  The  dispensations 
or  covenants — Adamic,  Abrahamic,  Jewish  and  Christian 
— passed  and  repassed  before  us.  Mount  Sinai  in  Arabia, 
Mount  Zion,  Mount  Calvary,  Mount  Tabor,  the  Red  Sea 
and  the  Jordan,  the  Passovers  and  the  Pentecosts,  the  Law 
and  the  Gospel — but  especially  the  ancient  order  of  things 
and  the  modern — occasionally  commanded  and  engaged 
our  attention. 

"  On  parting  the  next  day,  Sidney  Rigdon,  with  all  ap- 
parent candor,  said,  if  he  had  within  the  last  year  taught 
and  promulgated  from  the  pulpit  one  error  he  had  a  thou- 
sand. At  that  time  he  was  the  great  orator  of  the  Mahon- 
ing Association — though  in  authority  with  the  people 
second  always  to  Adamson  Bentley.  I  found  it  expedient 
to  caution  them  not  to  begin  to  pull  down  any  thing  they 
had  builded,  until  they  had  reviewed,  again  and  again, 
what  they  had  heard  ;  nor  even  then  rashly  and  without 


20  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


much  consideration.  Fearing  that  they  might  undo  their 
influence  with  the  people,  I  felt  constrained  to  restrain, 
rather  than  urge  them  forward  in  the  work  of  reforma- 
tion. 

"  With  many  an  invitation  to  visit  the  Western  Re- 
serve, and  with  many  an  assurance  of  a  full  and  candid 
hearing  on  the  part  of  the  uncommitted  community,  and 
an  immediate  access  to  the  ears  of  the  Baptist  churches 
within  the  sphere  of  their  influence,  we  took  the  parting 
hand.  They  went  on  their  way  rejoicing,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  single  year  prepared  the  whole  association  to 
hear  us  with  earnestness  and  candor." 

Investigations  of  Bible  truth  led  to  liberality  of 
views  among  the  people,  and  especially  in  the  Bap- 
tist churches.  The  Mahoning  Association  was 
founded  on  the  Philadelphia  Confession  of  Faith  as 
its  organic  law.  But  this  system  of  doctrine  clicl^  not 
receive  the  cordial  consent  of  all.  Discussions  were 
common  among  the  ministry  and  the  members  on 
the  law  as  a  rule  of  life  for  Christians — whether  it 
was  ever  binding  on  Gentiles — the  nature  of  faith — 
and  the  necessity  for  any  other  rules  of  faith  or 
church  articles  besides  the  Holy  Scriptures.  As  the 
light  came  apace,  many  became  convinced  that  much 
reformation  was  needed  to  bring  the  churches  up  to 
the  New  Testament  models 

It  is  probably  illogical  to  refer  this  movement 
toward  reform,  so  wide  and  so  active,  to  any  one 
leading  impulse.  As  in  all  similar  general  move- 
ments which  have  become  permanent,  it  is  probably 
more  correct  to  assign  the  result  to  several  concur- 
rent causes.  The  peculiar  character  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  Western  Reserve,  mostly  from  New 
England,  with  a  liberal  intermingling  of  people  from 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


21 


other  States,  resulting  in  comparisons,  often  in  col- 
lisions of  views,  was  a  powerful  stimulus  to  investi- 
gation. Yet  history  would  not  be  faithful  to  omit, 
as  among  the  most  direct  evident  causes  and  guides 
in  this  increasing  demand  for  a  restoration  of  the 
divinely  established  order  of  the  Gospel,  the  writings 
and  personal  labors  of  Alexander  Campbell.  His  de- 
bate with  Rev.  John  Walker,  published  in  1821,  and 
that  with  Rev.  W.  L.  McCalla,  which  appeared  in 
1824,  distinguished  by  freedom  from  conventional 
forms  of  belief,  and  by  their  boldness  and  clearness 
of  exposition  of  Scripture,  served  in  some  sort  as  a 
warrant  to  others  equally  inclined  but  less  bold  to 
burst  the  denominational  shell  in  which  they  felt 
themselves  confined. 

Added  to  these  the  "  Christian  Baptist,"  to  which 
the  preface  was  written  the  4th  of  July,  1823,  went 
forth  monthly  to  advocate  definitely  and  distinct- 
ively the  restoration  of  the  apostolic  teaching  and 
practice  in  all  things  ;  in  faith,  conversion,  baptism, 
the  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  church  order,  and, 
summarily,  every  thing  authorized  by  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Author  and  Finisher  of  the  Christian  religion. 

Many  were  prepared  to  welcome  the  "Christian 
Baptist"  when  it  first  appeared.  In  the  winter  of 
1822-3,  Elder  Bentley  discoursed  frequently  on  such 
themes  as  "  The  Law,"  "  The  Scriptures  a  Sufficient 
Guide,"  etc.  Jacob  Osborne,  though  young,  was 
active  and  influential  in  promoting  this  search  of 
the  word  for  "  things  new  and  old."  Sidney  Rigdon 
added  the  persuasions  of  a  very  commanding  and 
popular  eloquence.  Joseph  Freeman,  a  promising 
young  Baptist  minister,  who  had  spent  some  time  in 


22  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCJPLES 

Mr.  Campbell's  seminary,  made  a  tour  of  preaching 
in  the  winter  of  1823-4,  helping  forward  the  tide 
now  setting  in  toward  Jerusalem.  His  worthy  father 
also,  the  pious  Elder  Rufus  Freeman,  though  never 
fully  committed  to  follow  the  Apostles  withersoever 
they  go,  yet  took  the  liberal  side  in  frequent  dis- 
courses. Nor  should  the  name  of  Edward  Scofield 
be  omitted  as  one  of  the  same  class.  Besides  these, 
many  of  less  public  note,  as  Deacon  Rudolph,  of 
Garrettsville ;  Jesse  Hall,  of  Hubbard ;  Benjamin 
Ross,  of  Youngstown ;  David  Hays  and  William 
Dean,  of  Canfield,  with  many  others  whose  names 
are  in  the  Lamb's  Book  of  Life,  were  hoping  and 
laboring  for  a  better  day. 

This  was  especially  true  of  the  younger  class  of 
preachers,  whose  intellectual  and  religious  activities 
were  more  ready  for  the  coming  investigations  ;  such 
men  as  Marcus  Bosworth,  William  Hayden,  Darwin 
Atwater,  Zeb  Rudolph,  John  Applegate,  Nathan 
Porter,  and  William  Collins. 

The  disallegiance  to  creeds  and  confessions,  and 
confidence  in  the  sufficiency  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
gained  steady  advancement.  The  Baptist  church 
of  Nelson,  organized  in  1808,  by  Elder  Thos.  G. 
Jones,  was  composed  of  members  scattered  over  the 
territory  of  Nelson,  Hiram,  and  a  part  of  Mantua. 
So  thoroughly  satisfied  had  many  of  its  members 
become  of  the  detriment  of  the  Confession  of  Faith 
to  mature  Christian  manhood,  that  at  a  meeting  of 
this  church,  held  August  24,  1824,  a  resolution  was 
passed,  nearly  unanimously,  "  to  remove  the  Phila- 
delphia Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Church  Arti- 
cles, and  to  take  the  Word  of  God  for  our  Rule  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


23 


Faith  and  Practice."  The  two  classes  of  views  on 
the  step  thus  taken  were  on  the  alert  to  maintain 
their  ground.  The  brethren  leading  on  this  reform 
were  Deacon  John  Rudolph,  his  two  sons  John  and 
Zeb,  and  Darwin  Atwater.  The  opposition  was  led 
by  Mrs.  Garrett,  whose  skill  in  fencing,  shrewdness, 
and  determination,  united  with  piety  and  talent,  put 
her  forward  without  an  effort  of  hers,  as  the  coun- 
selor and  manager  of  the  cause  of  the  dissidents. 
She  was  a  lady  of  culture  and  intelligence,  well 
skilled  in  the  "doctrines  of  grace"  and  the  methods 
of  their  defense.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Jones,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  held  a  chaplaincy 
under  General  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
She  lived  to  a  great  age.  She  was  a  prodigy  of 
memory,  displaying  to  the  last  the  most  accurate  re- 
tention of  names,  dates,  and  events. 

The  meeting  of  the  association  came  close  after 
this  action  of  the  church  in  Nelson.  The  church 
appointed  Elder  Rufus  Freeman,  its  pastor;  James 
Rudolph  and  Darwin  Atwater  as  her  messengers  to 
that  body.  As  no  counteraction  could  be  taken  by 
the  opposing  members  with  any  show  of  authority, 
Mrs.  Garrett  wrote  a  letter  warning  the  association 
not  to  receive  these  messengers.  No  notice  was 
taken  of  her  letter,  and  the  messengers  were  re- 
ceived. The  next  year,  1825,  the  association  con- 
vened in  Palmyra.  Both  parts  of  the  church  sent 
messengers,  and  all  were  received.  For  the  reform- 
ing brethren  they  were :  Jacob  Osborne,  ordained 
minister,  John  Rudolph  and  John  Rudolph,  Jr.  In 
behalf  of  those  holding  the  "Articles,"  Joshua 
Maxon,  Martin  Manly,  and  Joseph  Tinker. 


24  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

It  will  be  readily  seen  in  these  movements  of  the 
churches,  the  origin  of  the  queries  which  were  sent 
to  the  association  at  Hubbard.  They  were  received, 
entered  on  record,  but  held  under  advisement  a 
whole  year.  In  the  minutes  of  its  meeting  in  Pal- 
myra, 1825,  the  answers  are  given.  The  questions 
and  answers  are  put  together  here.  This  was  Mr. 
Campbell's  first  appearance  in  the  Mahoning  Asso- 
ciation : 

"Answers  to  the  queries  from  the  church  at  Nelson. 

"  Query  1.  Will  this  association  hold  in  its  connection 
a  church  which  acknowledges  no  other  rule  of  faith  and 
practice  than  the  Scriptures  ? 

"  Ans.  Yes.  On  satisfactory  evidence  that  they  walk 
according  to  this  rule. 

"  Query  2.  In  what  manner  were  members  received  in- 
to the  churches  that  were  set  in  order  by  the  Apostles  ? 

"Ans.  Those  who  believed  and  were  baptized  were  added 
to  the  church. 

"  Query  3.  How  were  members  excluded  from  those 
churches  ? 

"Ans.  By  a  vote  of  the  brethren. 

"Answer  to  the  query  from  New  Lisbon. 

"  Query.  Is  it  scriptural  to  license  a  brother  to  adminis- 
ter the  word,  and  not  the  ordinances  ? 

"Ans.  We  have  no  such  custom  taught  in  the  scrip- 
tures. 

"Answer  to  the  query  from  Randolph,  viz. : 
Can  associations  in  their  present  modifications  find  their 
model  in  the  New  Testament  ? 
"Ans.  Not  exactly." 

The  tendency  of  religious  inquiry  is  here  clearly 
exhibited.    The  source  also  of  some  of  the  answers 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


25 


is  discernible.  The  answer  to  the  last  one  at 
least  is  authoritatively  attributed  to  Mr.  Campbell. 
The  wisdom  of  it,  admitting  the  need  of  a  scriptural 
reformation,  yet  carefully  avoiding  direct  collision 
with  the  tenacious  elders,  was  commented  on  at  the 
time  as  evidence  of  his  prudence  in  counsel. 

The  Mahoning  Association,  its  Constitution 
and  Creed. 

Associations  among  the  Baptists  are  voluntary 
unions  of  churches,  for  mutual  encouragement,  for 
counsel  in  church  affairs,  and  for  protection  against 
heresy  and  impostors.  Each  church  is  entitled  to 
three  representative  messengers,  who  bring  with 
them  a  written  statement  of  its  creed.  If  this  docu- 
ment is  orthodox,  or  in  harmony  with  its  accepted 
standards  of  faith,  the  church  is  received  by  a  plu- 
rality vote,  upon  which  the  moderator  gives  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  to  its  messengers,  and  bids 
them  to  a  seat. 

The  Mahoning  Association  was  formed  on  Wed- 
nesday, the  30th  of  August,  1820.  There  is  some- 
thing curious,  if  not  significant,  in  the  fact  that  in 
those  days  the  associations  took  their  names  from 
rivers  :  Thus  we  had  the  Beaver  Association,  the 
Grand  River  Association  ;  one  bears  the  name  of 
Huron,  another  is  called  Stillwater ;  and  the  Mahon- 
ing River  is  equally  honored. 

Another  circumstance :  Baptist  churches  were  in 
the  habit  of  assuming  names  having  a  sentimental 
or  historical  import.  Thus  the  church  of  Warren 
was  called  "  Concord ; "  that  in  Nelson  "  Be- 
thesda  " — probably  in  allusion  to  John  v  :  2,  and  the 
3 


26  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

healing  of  the  helpless  by  the  compassionate  Re- 
deemer. The  church  in  Youngstown  took  the  name 
"Zoar,"  significantly  reminding  its  members  that 
when  the  Lord  rained  upon  Sodom  and  upon  Go- 
morrah brimstone  and  fire  from  the  Lord  out  of 
heaven,  Lot  found  safety  by  fleeing  from  destruc- 
tion, and  entering  into  Zoar.  Gen.  xix:  23,  24.  A 
church  on  the  Sandy  was  known  as  the  "Valley  of 
Achor,"  teaching  us  that  admission  into  it  was  en- 
trance into  a  "door  of  hope."  Hosea  ii :  15.  The 
church  in  Hubbard  was  "  Mount  Hope."  "  Bethel " 
is  met  with  in  several  associations. 

These  and  others  are  found  on  the  records  of  their 
history.  It  is  important  to  know  them,  not  only  as 
showing  a  habit  of  that  people,  but  as  explanatory 
of  some  things  in  the  history. 

The  constitution  of  the  "  Mahoning  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation" declares: 

"It  is  our  object  to  glorify  God.  This  we  would  en- 
deavor to  do  by  urging  the  importance  of  the  doctrine 
and  precepts  of  the  gospel  in  their  moral  and  evangelical 
nature,  commending  ourselves  to  every  man's  conscience 
in  the  sight  of  God;  not  pretending  to  have  authority 
over  any  man's  [conscience,]  nor  over  the  churches, 
whose  representatives  form  this  association.  But  we  act 
as  an  advisory  counsel  only,  disclaiming  all  superiority,  jur- 
isdiction, coercive  right  and  infallibility;  and  acknowledg- 
ing the  independence  of  every  church  ;  which  has  received 
authority  from  Christ  to  perform  all  duties  enjoined  re- 
specting the  government  of  his  church  in  this  world." 

If  ecclesiastical  authority  was  vested  in  the  asso- 
ciation, it  will  be  seen  that  it  existed  in  a  very  mild 
form.    It  was  not  constituted  as  a  court  of  appeal. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


27 


It  assumed  no  judicial  nor  executive  powers  over  the 
churches.  It  existed  as  an  "advisory  council" 
merely,  and  for  the  custodial  charge  of  "  the  doc- 
trine" and  "the  precepts"  of  the  gospel.  What  the 
association  meant  by  "the  doctrine"  and  "the  pre- 
cepts "  of  the  gospel  will  be  apparent  a  little  further 
on  when  we  give  its  "  creed,"  for  the  conservation 
of  which  the  framers  of  its  constitution  deemed  it 
important  to  compact  the  churches  into  this  union. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  of  all  the  forms  of  modern  ec- 
clesiasticism,  the  association  was  the  least  liable  to 
complaint,  as  it  contained  the  greatest  liberty  with 
the  least  "coercive"  restraint  upon  the  conscience. 
It  is  to  be  lamented  that  all  bodies  are  liable  to  tran- 
scend their  constitutional  limits,  and  in  some  States 
the  association  has  been  made  an  engine  of  usurpa- 
tion and  tyranny,  of  which  the  "  Star  Chamber  "  in 
its  healthiest  day  might  have  been  emulous.  The 
"  Beaver  Anathema,"  the  "  Appomattox  and  Dover 
Decrees  "  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Virginia,  are  ample 
confirmations  of  the  truth  of  this  statement,  as  also 
the  tortuous  and  vindictive  policy  of  the  Redstone 
Association.  But  those  outbursts  of  clerical  intol- 
erance were  spasmodic  and  unauthorized,  resulting  in 
far  greater  damage  to  the  actors  in  those  scenes  of 
persecution,  than  to  the  disciples  against  whom 
their  fulminations  of  power  were  directed. 

The  creed  of  the  association  is  thus  set  forth  in 
its  constitution : 

M  The  doctrine  of  this  association  is  as  follows  : 

"1.  Three  persons  in  the  Godhead — the  Father,  the 

Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  these  three  are  one.  1 

John  v:  7. 


28 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


"  2.  Eternal  and  personal  election  to  holiness,  and  the 
adoption  of  children  by  Jesus  Christ  the  Redeemer.  Eph. 
i  :  4,  5- 

"  3.  The  condemnation  of  all  mankind  in  consequence 
of  Adam's  transgression.    Rom.  v  :  16,  18. 

"4.  The  depravity  of  all  mankind,  in  all  the  faculties  of 
the  soul,  the  understanding,  will,  and  affections.  Col.  i  : 
18;  Acts  xxvi :  18;  Eph.  iv :  18,  23;  John  v:  40; 
Rom.  viii.  7. 

"5.  Particular  redemption  by  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Rom.  v:  9  ;  Isa.  xxxv.  10;  John  vi :  37,  39. 

"6.  Pardon  of  all  sin  through  the  merits  of  Christ's 
blood  to  all  true  believers.  1  John  i:  7;  Col.  i:  14; 
Acts  x  :  43. 

"  7.  Free  justification  by  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
imputed  to  all  true  believers.  Jer.  xxxiii :  6  ;  1  Cor.  i : 
30  ;  Rom.  ix  :  5,  18,  19. 

"  8.  The  irresistible  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  re- 
generation.   Eph.  ii :  ij  Johni:  13. 

"9.  The  perseverance  of  the  saints  in  grace,  by  the 
power  of  God  unto  eternal  life.  John  x  :  27,  28,  29  ; 
Col.  iii :  3,9;  Johnx:  29. 

"10.  Water  baptism,  by  immersion  of  the  whole  body 
of  the  party,  so  as  to  be  buried  with  Christ  by  baptism ; 
and  not  by  sprinkling  or  pouring,  as  the  manner  of  some 
is.  Mark  i :  9,  10;  John  iii:  23;  Acts  viii:  38,  39; 
Rom.  vi :  4 ;  Col.  ii  :  12;  Heb.  x  :  22. 

"11.  The  subjects  of  baptism:  those  who  repent 
of  their  sins  and  believe  in  Christ,  and  openly  confess 
faith  in  the  Son  of  God.  Matt,  iii :  8  ;  Acts  viii :  37  ; 
x:  47. 

"  12.  The  everlasting  punishment  of  the  finally  impen- 
itent in  as  unlimited  sense  as  the  happiness  of  the  right- 
eous.   Matt,  xxv  :  41-46;  Mark  iii :  29;  Rev.  xiv  :  it. 

"13.  We  believe  that  the  first  day  of  the  week  is  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


29 


Lord's  day,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  held  sacred  to  the 
memory  of  Christ's  glorious  resurrection,  and  devoted  in  a 
special  manner  to  the  duties  of  religion. 

"  Finally,  we  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  the  only 
certain  rule  of  faith  and  practice." 

The  Mahoning  Association  was  formed  from  the 
Beaver,  and  in  this  statement  of  its  faith  it  copied, 
without  change,  that  of  the  Beaver  Association. 

It  is  remarkable  that  while  the  association  declared 
fully  its  creed  in  its  constitution,  each  church  was 
at  liberty  to  form  its  own  creed,  only  provided  its 
declaration  of  doctrine  agreed  in  sentiment  with  that 
of  the  association.  It  seemed  to  be  much  trouble  to 
"  fix  "  this  business.  A  creed  mania  prevailed,  and 
the  churches  vied  with  each  other  in  fencing  out 
heresy,  and  fencing  in  their  orthodoxy  with  walls 
broad  and  high,  built  of  the  "  soundest "  material  of 
Christendom.  Their  Calvinism  was  the  diamond  of 
"  purest  ray  serene."  They  sought  to  eliminate  all 
gaseous  and  volatile  elements  from  the  mixture. 
They  aimed  to  form  a  compound  of  belief  so  pure, 
doctrinally,  and  so  translucent,  that  it  should  resist 
the  action  of  the  elements  and  never  more  be  subject 
to  corrosion  or  decay ! 

Alas  !  for  all  human  hope  !  Revolution  stops  not 
to  unbuild.  It  often  sweeps  the  foundation  of  many 
a  massive  structure,  and  with  it  its  admired  turret, 
cope,  and  dome.  When  it  became  apparent  that 
these  belabored  theories  of  divine  grace  and  of  hu- 
man regeneration  were  not  the  gospel  delivered 
over  to  the  Holy  Twelve,  it  mattered  little  how 
sound,  or  firm,  or  beautiful.  They  were  in  the  way. 
They  were  " stumbling  blocks"  in  the  way  of  the 


30  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


union  of  the  Lord's  people.  Remove  them,  saith  the 
prophet.    Isa.  lvii :  14. 

As  a  specimen  of  the  orthodox  belief  which  could 
pass  the  gate  unchallenged,  I  append  two  articles  of 
the  creed  of  one  of  the  strong  churches  of  the  asso- 
ciation. It  is  the  articles  of  belief  of  the  church  of 
Youngstown,  called  "  Zoar."  This  creed  was  copied 
by  several  other  churches,  evidently  because  the 
tone  of  its  ring  showed  it  to  be  pure  metal.  The 
whole  creed  of  this  church  is  elaborated  in  thirteen 
articles  of  great  length  and  precision  : 

"  8.  We  believe  that  the  work  of  regeneration,  conver- 
sion, sanctification,  and  belief  is  not  an  act  of  man's  free 
will  and  power,  but  of  the  mighty,  efficacious,  and  irresis- 
tible grace  of  God. 

"  9.  We  believe  that  all  those  who  are  chosen  by  the 
Father,  redeemed  by  the  Son,  and  sanctified  by  the  Spirit, 
shall  certainly  and  finally  persevere  ;  so  that  not  one  of 
them  shall  ever  perish,  but  shall  have  everlasting  life." 

Does  the  reader  weary  under  its  length  and  pon- 
derous terms  ?  What  think  you,  then,  of  the  patience 
of  the  saints  of  those  days,  who,  four  times  a  year, 
sat  uncovered  and  reverent  to  hear  it  all ;  nay, 
whose  pity  is  not  awakened  for  the  new  converts, 
the  lambs,  who  must  hear  it  over,  and  profess  be- 
lief in  each  and  every  item  of  it !  When  Philip 
said  to  the  eunuch  "  If  thou  believest  with  all  thy 
heart  thou  mayest " — as  he  had  never  seen  and  mas- 
tered this  confession,  nor  any  other  of  modern  or- 
thodoxy— it  is  certain  he  simply  called  for  the  con- 
vert's faith  in  Jesus  Christ  as  alone  sufficient  for 
obedience  and  all  the  demands  of  a  new  life. 

It  is  cheering  to  know  that  ever  since  the  great 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


31 


Saxon  sounded  the  note  of  liberty  of  conscience, 
every  new  body  is  more  and  more  liberal,  approach- 
ing gradually  to  the  primitive  order  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ.  The  Mahoning  Association  was  no  excep- 
tion. It  was  far  more  tolerant  than  its  ecclesiastical 
ancestors,  the  Redstone  and  the  Wooster  Associa- 
tions. As  proof,  in  1824,  she  admitted  the  church 
of  Wellsburg,  Virginia,  with  a  statement  of  belief 
containing  not  one  hint  of  the  "doctrines  of  grace," 
commonly  known  as  Calvinism !  In  that  year  the 
church  of  Wellsburg  was  formed,  the  members  hav- 
ing been  dismissed  for  that  purpose  from  the  church 
of  Brush  Run,  and  it  sought  admission  into  the  Ma- 
honing Association.  It  appointed  A.  Campbell, 
John  Brown,  and  George  Young  its  messengers  to 
carry  the  church  letter  and  to  ask  admission. 

The  statement  of  belief  which  these  messengers 
bore  to  the  association,  was  written  by  Mr.  Campbell, 
who  himself  did  not  attend  its  meeting,  wishing  to 
be  present  at  the  Redstone  Association,  where  a 
coalition  was  forming  against  him  on  account  of  his 
published  views  of  reformation. 

The  statement  of  belief  here  follows,  copied  from 
the  records  of  the  association,  which  met  that  year  in 
Hubbard : 

"A  Belief  of  the  Wellsburg  Church. 

"  We  have  agreed  to  walk  together  in  obedience  to  the 
authority  and  institution  of  our  Lord  and  King,  as  ex- 
posed in  the  form  of  sound  words  delivered  unto  us  by 
the  apostles,  evangelists,  and  prophets  of  the  Savior,  and 
recorded  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  volume  called  the 
New  Testament.    Our  views  of  this  volume  are  briefly 


32  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

these: — We  believe  that  the  whole  Christian  religion  is 
fully  and  explicitly  developed  in  it,  and  that  nothing  is 
ever  to  be  added  thereto,  either  by  any  new  revelations 
of  the  Spirit,  or  by  any  doctrines  or  commandments  of 
men ;  but  that  it  is,  as  presented  to  us,  perfectly  adapted 
to  all  the  wise  and  holy  ends  of  its  all-wise  and  benevo- 
lent Author. 

"From  this  volume,  with  the  Old  Testament  Scripture, 
which  we  also  receive  as  of  divine  inspiration  and  author- 
ity, we  learn  every  thing  necessary  to  be  known  of  God, 
his  works  of  creation,  providence  and  redemption  j  and 
*  considering  the  Old  Testament  as  containing  the  Jew's 
religion  as  fully  as  the  New  contains  the  Christian,  we 
avail  ourselves  of  both  as  containing  every  thing  profit- 
able for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction  and  instruc- 
tion in  righteousness,  to  make  the  man  of  God  perfect, 
thoroughly  furnished  unto  every  good  work.  But  we 
adhere  to  the  New,  as  containing  the  whole  Christian  re- 
ligion. The  New  teaches  us — and  we  solemnly  declare 
our  belief  of  it — that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Son  of 
God,  the  Savior,  which  was  to  come  into  the  world  ;  that 
died  for  our  sins,  was  buried,  and  rose  again  the  third  day 
from  the  dead,  and  ascended  to  the  right  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  high ;  that  after  his  ascension  he  sent  down 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  convince  the  world  of  sin,  of  right- 
'  eousness,  and  of  judgment,  by  giving  testimony  of  the 
Savior,  and  by  confirming  the  word  of  the  apostles  by 
signs,  and  miracles,  and  spiritual  gifts ;  that  every  one 
that  believeth  by  means  of  the  demonstration  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  and  the  power  of  God,  is  born  of  God,  and  over- 
cometh  the  world,  and  hath  eternal  life  abiding  in  him  ; 
that  such  persons,  so  born  of  the  Spirit,  are  to  receive 
the  washing  of  water  as  well  as  the  renewal  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  order  to  admission  into  the  Church  of  the  living 
God. 

"And  that  such  being  the  natural  darkness  and  enmity 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


33 


of  the  children  of  men,  and  their  hearts  so  alienated  from 
the  life  of  God  through  the  ignorance  that  is  in  them  and 
by  their  wicked  works,  none  can  enter  into  this  kingdom 
of  heaven  but  in  consequence  of  the  regeneration  or  re- 
newal of  the  Holy  Spirit.  For  it  is  now,  as  it  ever  was, 
that  only  to  as  many  as  received  Him,  who  are  born  not 
of  blood,  nor  the  will  of  the  flesh,  but  of  God,  does  He 
give  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  in  His  name.  For  we  are  born  again  not  of  cor- 
ruptible seed,  but  by  the  incorruptible  seed  of  the  word 
of  God,  which  abideth  forever. 

"  Our  views  of  the  Church  of  God  are  also  derived 
from  the  same  source,  and  from  it  we  are  taught  that  it  is 
a  society  of  those  who  have  believed  the  record  that  God 
gave  of  His  Son  :  that  this  record  is  their  bond  of  union ; 
that  after  a  public  profession  of  this  faith,  and  immersion 
into  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  they 
are  to  be  received  and  acknowledged  as  brethren  for 
whom  Christ  died.  That  such  a  society  has  a  right  to 
appoint  its  own  bishops  and  deacons,  and  to  do  all  and 
every  thing  belonging  to  a  church  of  Christ,  independent 
of  any  authority  under  heaven." 

This  document  is  especially  noticeable  for — 
Its  manly  independence; 

Its  freedom  from  technicality  and  creed  verbiage  ; 

Its  comprehension  of  the  whole  matter  of  faith 
and  obedience  to  Christ; 

Its  marked  exaltation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 

Its  assertion  of  their  absolute  sufficiency  for  all 
Christian  purposes  ; 

Its  discrimination  between  the  Jewish  and  Chris- 
tian portions  of  the  Bible ; 

Its  declaration  of  the  necessity  of  personal  re- 
generation ; 


34  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Its  recognition  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  the  agent  of 
that  change ; 

Its  affirmation  of  the  power  of  the  gospel  as  the 
means  of  faith  and  conversion  ; 

Its  repudiation  of  all  human  authority  over  the 
churches ; 

Finally,  that  it  contains  the  germs  of  the  relig- 
ious reformation  about  being  initiated,  and  which 
has  since  spread  so  wonderfully  in  the  world. 

In  August,  1826,  the  Mahoning  Baptist  Associa- 
tion was  held  in  Canfield,  then  in  Trumbull  County. 
It  convened  in  a  barn  belonging  to  David  Hays,  who 
was  a  pillar  in  the  church.  Adamson  Bentley  was 
the  moderator,  and  Joab  Gaskill,  clerk. 

Among  the  ministers  in  attendance  were  A. 
Bentley ;  Thomas  Campbell  and  Alexander  Camp- 
bell, of  Virginia  ;  Walter  Scott,  of  Pittsburgh  ;  Sidney 
Rigdon,  Thomas  Miller,  William  West,  Corbly  Mar- 
tin, and  Jacob  Osborne. 

It  was  customary  in  the  association  to  have  preach- 
ing for  the  public  while  the  messengers  were  trans- 
acting business.  A.  Campbell  preached  on  Saturday. 
Disapproving  of  all  priestly  style,  either  in  language, 
mien,  or  garb,  he  was  dressed  in  a  plain  suit  of 
drab.  He  stood  up  as  a  man — a  Christian  man — 
rather  than  as  a  "minister,"  to  teach  the  Christian 
religion  as  he  read  it  in  the  Scriptures.  His  man- 
ner impressed  even  youth  with  his  superiority.  He 
was  somewhat  emaciated,  suffering  from  dyspepsia. 
His  subject  was  the  7th  chapter  of  Romans :  a  deep 
subject,  but  his  exhibition  of  it  was  so  lucid  and  in- 
structive that  he  riveted  attention  to  the  close. 

The  meeting,  Saturday,  ended  with  a  baptism. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


35 


The  congregation  retired  over  a  lawn  of  velvet  and 
green  to  a  stream  near  by,  flowing  among  rocks,  and 
skirted  by  a  grove.  They  proceeded  to  the  water 
singing,  and  returned  in  the  same  manner. 

The  Congregational  meeting-house,  at  the  center 
of  the.  town,  was  procured  for  Sunday.  At  a  very 
early  hour  it  was  filled,  and  many  around  it  endeav- 
ored to  hear.  Rigdon  and  Scott  preached  in  the 
morning.  Some  having  heard  the  eloquent  preacher 
from  Pittsburgh,  left  the  meeting,  supposing  they  had 
heard  Mr.  Campbell,  whose  name  had  already  become 
famous.  Mr.  Campbell  followed  after  a  brief  recess. 
He  founded  his  discourse  on  Malachi  iv  :  2  :  "Unto 
you  that  fear  my  name,  shall  the  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness arise  with  healing  in  his  wings."  He  an- 
nounced his  theme,  "The  Progress  of  revealed 
Light."  His  discourse  abounded  in  thoughts  so 
fresh,  he  made  his  theme  so  luminous  and  instruct- 
ive, that  the  most  rapt  attention  followed  him 
throughout  the  delivery. 

Seizing  on  the  evident  analogy  between  light  and 
knowledge,  and  using  the  former,  as  the  Scripture 
every-where  does,  as  a  metaphor  for  the  latter,  the 
eloquent  preacher  exhibited  the  gradual  and  pro- 
gressive unfolding  of  divine  revelation  under  four 
successive  periods  of  development,  which  he  charac- 
terized as,  1st,  The  Starlight  Age;  2d,  The  Moon- 
light Age  ;  3d,  The  Twilight  Age  ;  4th,  The  Sun- 
light Age  ;  and  employed  these  respectively  to  ex- 
plain, 1st,  The  Patriarchal;  2d,  The  Jewish  Dis- 
pensation ;  3d,  The  ministry  of  John  the  Baptist, 
with  the  personal  ministry  of  the  Lord  on  the  earth  ; 
and,  4th,  The  full  glory  of  the  perfect  system  of  sal- 


36 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


vation  under  the  apostles  when  the  Holy  Spirit  was 
poured  out  on  them,  after  the  ascension  and  coronation 
of  Jesus  as  Lord  of  all.  Under  his  remarks,  and 
applications  of  his  theme,  the  whole  Bible  became 
luminous  with  a  light  it  never  before  seemed  to  pos- 
sess. The  scope  of  the  whole  book  appeared  clear 
and  intelligible  ;  its  parts  were  so  shown  to  be  in  har- 
mony with  each  other,  and  with  the  whole,  that  the  ex- 
hibition of  the  subject  seemed  little  else  to  many  than 
a  new  revelation,  like  a  "  second  sun  risen  on  mid- 
noon,"  shedding  a  flood  of  light  on  a  book  hitherto 
looked  upon  as  dark  and  mysterious.  The  style  of 
the  preacher  was  plain,  common  sense,  manly.  His 
argumentation  was  sweeping,  powerful,  and  convinc- 
ing ;  and  above  all,  and  better,  his  manner  of  preach- 
ing formed  so  pleasing  and  instructive  a  contrast 
with  the  customary  style  of  taking  a  text  merely, 
or  of  sermonizing,  in  which  mystery  prevailed  and 
the  "  darkness  "  became  "  visible,"  that  the  assembly 
listened  to  the  last  of  a  long  address  scarcely  conscious 
of  the  lapse  of  time.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ser- 
mon, after  dwelling  with  earnest  and  thrilling  elo- 
quence on  the  glory  of  the  gospel  dispensation,  the 
consummation  of  all  the  revelations  of  God,  the  Sun 
of  righteousness  "  now  risen  with  healing  in  his 
wings,"  putting  an  end  to  the  moonlight  and  star- 
light ages,  he  proceeded  : 

"The  day  of  light,  so  illustrious  in  its  beginning,  be- 
came cloudy.  The  Papacy  arose  and  darkened  the 
heavens  for  a  long  period,  obscuring  the  brightness  of  the 
risen  glory  of  the  Sun  of  righteousness  so  that  men  groped 
in  darkness.  By  the  reformation  of  the  17th  century  that 
dark  cloud  was  broken  in  fragments ;  and  though  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


37 


heavens  of  gospel  light  are  still  obscured  by  many  clouds — 
the  sects  of  various  names — the  promise  is  that  *  at  evening- 
time  it  shall  be  light.'  The  primitive  gospel,  in  its 
effulgence  and  power,  is  yet  to  shine  out  in  its  original 
splendor  to  regenerate  the  world." 

That  discourse  was  never  forgotten.  It  never  will 
be.  It  formed  an  era  in  respect  to  the  gospel  on  the 
Western  Reserve.  The  shell  of  sect-sermons  was 
broken.  The  Bible  was  a  new  book  ;  its  meaning 
could  be  comprehended ;  its  language  could  be 
understood. 

Early  in  August,  1823,  was  issued  from  Buffalo 
Creek,  Va.,  (now  Bethany),  the  first  number  of  the 
"  Christian  Baptist."  It  was  edited  by  Alex.  Campbell. 
It  was  a  monthly,  devoted  to  the  promulgation,  expo- 
sition and  defense  of  the  Christian  religion  as  it  is 
expressly  revealed  in  the  New  Testament.  Its  bold 
exposition  of  prevailing  errors,  and  uncompromising 
defense  of  the  "  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints," 
will  be  at  once  perceived  by  the  Scripture  motto 
which  stood  at  the  head  of  every  monthly  number 
for  the  whole  seven  years  it  continued  to  be  published  : 

"  Style  no  man  on  earth  your  father ;  for  He  alone 
is  your  father  who  is  in  heaven  ;  and  all  ye  are  breth- 
ren. Assume  not  the  title  of  Rabbi;  for  ye  have  only 
one  teacher :  neither  assume  the  title  of  leader,  for  ye 
have  only  one  leader ;  the  Messiah : "  instructio7is  of  the 
Lord  Messiah,  in  Matth.  xxiii:  8,  9. 

The  sentiments  and  positions  of  the  "Christian 
Baptist "  were  so  fresh,  so  free  from  the  shackles  of 
doctrinal  form  peculiar  to  any  sect,  so  rational,  man- 
ifestly so  scriptural,  and  enforced  by  abilities  so 
varied  and  commanding,  that  the  work  increased  its 


38  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

circulation  every  year.  It  paid  no  deference  to  reign- 
ing customs.  Following  its  motto,  it  owned  no  mas- 
ter, no  leader,  but  Christ.  Its  editor  was  unsparing 
in  his  denunciations  of  the  clergy,  who,  as  he  averred, 
had  usurped  the  thrones  of  the  Holy  Twelve.  The 
exclusive  right  of  the  inspired  apostles  to  the  twelve 
thrones  of  Christendom,  was  asserted  and  vindicated 
with  great  power.  It  was  the  peculiar  feature  of  the 
"  Christian  Baptist"  that  it  put  forth  no  doctrinal  basis 
on  which  to  unite  the  disciples  of  Christ,  except 
what  the  apostles  proclaimed  at  the  beginning. 

The  boldness  of  its  bugle-blast  of  reform  startled 
the  slumbering  camps  of  the  half-sleeping  Israel. 
Gideon's  cake,  which  smote  the  tent  and  laid  it  all 
along  in  ruins,  was  not  more  significant  nor  decisive 
in  its  portent  of  the  issues  of  the  coming  contest. 

Mr.  Campbell's  visits  to  the  Western  Reserve,  not 
only  at  the  annual  gatherings  of  the  associations,  but 
at  the  ministers'  meetings  also,  gave  great  impulse  to 
the  views  of  reform  propounded  in  his  periodical,  and 
thus  prepared  the  way  for  a  mighty  breaking  up  in 
things  ecclesiastic,  and  the  revolution  soon  to  follow. 
These  ministers'  meetings  among  the  Baptist  preach- 
ers were  much  the  same  as  the  preachers'  associa- 
tions more  recently  established  among  the  Disciples. 
It  seems,  from  best  obtainable  information,  that 
Elder  Adamson  Bentley  was  chiefly  instrumental 
in  establishing  them.  Being  himself  a  gentleman 
of  culture,  possessed  of  more  than  the  average  edu- 
cation and  reading  existing  among  the  Baptist  cler- 
gymen of  that  day — having,  with  other  advantages, 
had  the  benefits  of  association  with  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Stoughton  of  Philadelphia — he  felt  the  need  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


39 


elevating  the  standard  of  ministerial  qualification 
among  his  Baptist  brethren.  He  accordingly  en- 
couraged them  to  meet  statedly  for  mutual  improve- 
ment. 

In  June,  1821,  the  ministers'  meeting  was  held  in 
Warren.  Mr.  Campbell  attended,  and  this  was  prob- 
ably his  first  visit  to  the  Western  Reserve.  His  rep- 
utation had  preceded  him.  William  Hayden  and 
many  others  came  to  the  meeting,  desiring  to  hear 
him  and  make  his  acquaintance. 

When  Hayden  entered  the  house,  Mr.  Campbell 
was  speaking.  He  had  never  seen  him,  but  was  fa- 
miliar with  his  name  and  his  history.  "  Who  is 
that  ? "  he  said  to  himself — "  so  tall  and  straight,  with 
such  piercing  eyes  !  What  a  shrill,  penetrating  voice  ! 
That  must  be  Campbell."  So  he  thought  and  so 
it  was.  He  was  far  in  advance  of  the  preachers 
present  in  learning,  ability,  and  acquaintance  with  the 
Christian  institution,  yet  he  declined  asserting  any 
superiority  among  them,  leaving  them  the  fullest 
liberty  of  discourse  and  investigation. 

Some  one  propounded  the  question  "Whether  the 
apostolic  preaching  and  mode  of  establishing  churches 
is  an  example  binding  on  us  ? "  "  Certainly,"  re- 
sponded Mr.  Campbell,  in  his  turn,  "  in  all  cases  pos- 
sible." The  subject  of  election^  a  doctrine  held  by 
all  the  Baptist  ministry,  came  up  for  remark,  as  one 
of  the  sermons  was  under  review.  Mr.  Campbell 
affirmed  "that  preaching  the  doctrine  of  election 
never  converted  a  single  sinner  to  God."  "  Astonish- 
ing!" retorted  Elder  Freeman,  "Astonishing!" 
"Where  are  they?"  inquired  Mr.  Campbell.  Mr. 
Freeman  replied,  "all  around  you!"    "I  very  much 


40  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

doubt  it,"  responded  Mr.  Campbell ;  adding,  "  you 
have  preached  election,  foreordination,  effectual  call- 
ing and  perseverance ;  and  along  with  it  you  have 
held  up  the  love  of  God  to  lost  sinners,  the  death  of 
Christ  for  their  salvation,  his  resurrection  for  their 
justification,  the  final  judgment  and  eternal  glory: 
sinners  were  converted,  and  you  have  attributed  it  to 
the  Calvinistic  4  doctrines  of  grace.'  " 

The  right  interpretation  of  the  Scriptures  ;  that 
they  were  to  be  understood ;  that  the  same  rules  of 
interpretation  were  to  be  applied  to  them,  as  to  other 
writings  ;  that  no  new  rules  were  to  be  coined  for 
their  benefit  ;  that  they  were  not  to  be  applied  to  the 
building  up  of  any  sect ;  that  the  word  of  God, 
rightly  interpreted  and  applied,  would  put  an  end  to 
religious  controversy,  and  restore  the  primitive  union 
of  the  church  ;  these,  and  kindred  themes,  as  novel 
to  many  as  they  were  convincing,  came  up  in  state- 
ment and  illustration. 

It  is  necessary  in  opening  this  history  to  present 
a  short  biography  of  some  of  the  men  through  whose 
instrumentality  God  led  his  people  into  a  clearer 
knowledge  of  his  "ancient  paths."  They  were  men 
of  no  mean  abilities,  and  descended  from  a  race  not 
unknown  in  history.  The  Campbell  clan  of  Scotland 
and  the  North  of  Ireland  was  once  the  most  nu- 
merous and  among  the  most  powerful  of  the  races 
which  in  feudal  times  disputed  for  the  mastery  of 
Scotland.  Inheriting  the  high,  ambitious,  and  cher- 
ished traditional  honors  of  such  an  ancestry,  when 
the  heroic  Knox  rescued  that  mountain  land  from  the 
grasp  of  Romanism,  and  established  there  the  Ge- 
nevan reformation,  they  enlisted  in  the  defense  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


41 


Presbyterianism  with  all  the  enthusiasm  wnich,  in 
former  times,  distinguished  the  tournament  and  the 
profession  of  arms ;  and  even  when  that  form  of 
religion  was  shattered  by  the  shock  of  religious 
strife,  and  riven  into  fragmentary  sects,  the  world 
witnessed,  on  another  theater,  a  display  of  the  char- 
acteristic qualities  of  this  race  of  noble  men : 

Biography  of  T.  Campbell. 

Thomas  Campbell,*  father  of  Alexander  Campbell,  de- 
scended from  the  Campbells  of  Argyleshire.  He  was  born 
in  County  Down,  near  Newry,  Ireland,  February  1,  1763. 
He  was  the  oldest  of  four  sons.  His  father,  Archibald 
Campbell,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  British  Army 
under  General  Wolfe,  and  who  was  at  the  capture  of  Que- 
bec, gave  him  and  his  three  brothers,  James,  Archibald, 
and  Enos,  the  advantages  of  culture  and  an  English  edu- 
cation in  a  military  academy. 

Thomas  Campbell  began  in  early  life  to  exhibit  the 
serious  and  meditative  dispositions  of  heart  which  in  all 
his  life  were  so  manifest  to  all  who  knew  him.  The  rigid 
formalities  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  father 
was  a  strict  member,  failed  to  satisfy  the  deeply  religious 
feelings,  which  were  early  awakened  in  him.  He  fled  to 
the  gospels.  He  found  more  congenial,  spiritual  aliment 
among  the  warm-hearted  and  zealous  Seceders.  Among 
this  people — a  branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  a  se- 
cession from  the  Kirk  of  Scotland — he  became  deeply 
anxious  for  his  soul's  salvation.  He  passed  through  men- 
tal struggles  of  indescribable  anguish.  The  coveted  peace 
at  length  dawned  on  his  soul,  and  in  the  raptures  of  grat- 

*  For  the  materials  of  this  sketch  of  this  excellent  man,  I  am 
chiefly  indebted  to  Prof.  Richardson's  learned  and  admirable  work, 
"  Memoirs  of  A.  Campbell;"  to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for 
fuller  information. 

4 


42  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

itude  for  so  great  a  deliverance,  he  resolved  to  consecrate 
himself  to  the  public  service  of  the  blessed  Redeemer,  to 
whom  his  soul  now  clung  with  the  ardors  of  a  most  de- 
voted love.  He  was  soon  rapidly  on  the  road  to  the  min- 
istry. Being  an  excellent  English  scholar,  he  engaged  for 
awhile  in  teaching.  In  the  University  of  Glasgow  he 
completed  the  usual  classical  studies,  and  also  a  course  in 
medicine  and  lectures  in  law.  He  next  completed  the 
theological  course  in  Divinity  Hall,  under  Archibald 
Bruce,  D.D.,  a  master  of  profound  abilities,  and  was  com- 
missioned, under  the  rigid  and  thorough  examinations  of 
the  Scotch  Seceder  Church,  with  the  full  credentials  of  the 
Christian  ministry. 

In  June,  1787,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jane  Corneigle,  whose  ancestors  were  of  the  French  Hu- 
guenots, the  Protestant  reformers  who  were  driven  out  of 
France  by  the  bloody  persecutions  of  the  papacy  under 
Louis  XIV.  She  was  a  lady  of  equal  dignity  and  gen- 
tleness, with  mental  and  moral  endowments  fitted  to  be  a 
queen.  With  this  superior  Christian  woman,  the  faithful 
companion  of  all  his  cares  and  toils,  Elder  Thomas  Camp- 
bell spent  the  greater  part  of  his  laborious  and  useful  life. 
She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters — one  son  dying  young — and  lived  to  impress  her 
own  virtues  upon  all. 

Mr.  Campbell  served  for  some  time  as  a  pastor  of  a 
church  near  the  city  of  Armagh.  His  habits  in  that  ca- 
pacity were  ordered  by  the  same  rules  of  exactness,  thor- 
oughness, and  affectionate  kindness  which  marked  all  his 
course  in  life.  He  visited,  conversed,  taught  the  people 
privately  the  duties  of  social  life,  prayed  with  them,  re- 
lieved them,  in  which  benefaction  his  wife  was  ever  his 
cheerful  assistant,  and  in  many  ways  labored  for  the  in- 
crease of  the  piety  and  the  personal  improvement  of  the 
people  under  his  charge. 

He  cultivated  early  and  ever  that  deep  reverence  for 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


43 


the  Bible  which  made  him  so  familiar  with  its  meaning 
and  its  language,  and,  which,  by  exalting  the  word  of 
God  into  such  incomparable  pre-eminence  above  all  hu- 
man compositions,  laid  the  foundations  for  the  attempt  to 
discard  all  human  creeds  as  bonds  of  union,  and  to  unite 
all  the  true  followers  of  Christ  into  the  'unity  of  the 
spirit  and  the  bond  of  peace.'  His  faith  was  equal  to 
any  demands  upon  it  from  that  infallible,  divine  authority. 
Simple  trusting  reliance  on  the  Lord,  and  childlike  obe- 
dience to  all  his  known  requirements  constituted  the  whole 
of  his  religion  practically  viewed. 

An  anecdote  related  of  him  by  Professor  Richardson, 
so  strikingly  illustrates  this  admirable  trait  of  his  religious 
life,  and  displays  so  well  his  calm  self-possession,  that  I  do 
not  withhold  it. 

During  the  political  agitations,  embittered  by  the  heated 
antipathies  of  Catholics  and  Protestants,  by  which  so- 
ciety was  rent  and  life  made  insecure,  "  Mr.  Campbell 
was  one  day  preaching  to  a  congregation,  when  the  house 
was  suddenly  surrounded  by  a  troop  of  Welsh  Horse,  no- 
torious for  their  severities  and  outrages  on  those  they  con- 
ceived to  be  rebels.  The  captain,  conceiving  that  in  this 
remote  place  he  had  come  upon  a  meeting  of  the  rebels, 
dismounted,  and  in  a  threatening  manner  marched  into 
the  church.  It  was  a  moment  of  awful  suspense.  The 
audience  were  panic-stricken,  expecting  every  moment  to 
be  subjected  to  the  fury  of  the  soldiers.  Just  at  this  mo- 
ment, as  the  captain  stalked  up  the  aisle,  casting  fierce 
glances  on  all  sides,  a  venerable  elder  sitting  near  Mr. 
Campbell  called  to  him  solemnly  :  1  Pray,  sir  / '  Where- 
upon, in  response  to  the  call,  and  in  a  deep,  unfaltering 
voice,  he  began  in  the  language  of  the  forty-sixth  Psalm : 
1  Thou,  O  God,  art  our  refuge  and  strength :  a  very  pres- 
ent help  in  trouble.  Therefore  will  we  not  fear  though 
the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the  mountains  be  car- 
ried into  the  depths  of  the  sea.'     No  sooner  was  the 


44  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

first  verse  uttered,  then  the  captain  paused,  and,  appar- 
ently impressed,  bent  his  head,  listened  to  the  close,  then 
bowed,  and  retracing  his  steps,  mounted  his  horse  and 
dashed  away  with  his  entire  troop." 

Under  the  united  duties  of  the  care  of  the  church, 
and  the  work  of  teaching,  his  health  was  impaired.  A  sea 
voyage  was  resolved  upon  as  the  necessary  means  of  re- 
covery. Accordingly  on  the  8th  of  April,  1807,  after 
bidding  an  affectionate  farewell  to  his  congregation,  and 
leaving  his  school  in  the  hands  of  his  oldest  son,  Alexan- 
der, he  commended  his  family  tenderly  to  God,  and  sailed 
out  of  harbor  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Philadelphia,  into 
which  port  he  entered  after  a  prosperous  voyage  of  thirty- 
five  days. 

In  the  emigration  then  flowing  from  the  old  world  to 
the  shores  of  the  United  States,  many  of  Mr.  Campbell's 
intimate  friends  had  preceded  him  to  this  country,  and 
some  of  them,  as  the  Hodgens  and  the  Fosters,  came  soon 
after.  Among  these,  Mr.  Campbell  found  the  most  hospi- 
table welcome.  He  began  at  once  to  urge  the  claims  of 
the  gospel — the  undivided  gospel  of  God  upon  the  people. 
His  charitable  spirit,  with  his  able  expositions  of  Scrip- 
ture, drew  around  him  the  pious  of  different  church  com- 
munions. As  no  reason  appeared  for  their  separation,  but 
rather  many  for  their  union  in  worship  and  work  on  Bible 
principles,  they  agreed  to  form  an  association  of  Chris- 
tians, to  meet  statedly  for  personal  advancement  in  knowl- 
edge and  duty.  They  soon  felt  the  importance  of  diffus- 
ing for  the  good  of  others  those  principles  which  they 
found  so  congenial  to  the  word  of  God,  and  such  an  en- 
largement of  their  own  hearts.  Thus  come  into  being  the 
"  Christian  Association,"  of  Washington,  Pa.,  which  issued 
the  very  first  document  of  this  reformation,  which  now 
girdles  the  globe,  and  holds  a  membership  of  five  or  six 
hundred  thousand  souls !  That  document  written  by 
Elder  Thomas  Campbell,  is  a  pamphlet  of  56  pages,  titled 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


45 


"Declaration  and  Address  of  the  Christian  Association  of 
Washington,  Pa."  It  is  a  remarkable  production — for 
its  catholicity,  its  supreme  exaltation  of  the  word  of  God, 
its  clear,  unequivocal  statement  of  the  true  and  only 
practical  ground  of  union,  and  its  enunciation  of  all  the 
principles  of  this  rising  religious  movement.  It  came 
from  the  press  in  the  autumn  of  1809. 

In  the  same  fall  he  was  joined  by  his  family.  For 
more  than  forty  years  he  plead  for  the  religion  of  Christ 
among  men.  He  traveled  extensively,  and  was  every- 
where listened  to  with  marked  attention  for  his  distin- 
guished abilities,  and  for  the  dignity  and  urbanity  of  his 
manners.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-one,  honored  of 
all. 

Biography  of  A.  Campbell. 

"Alexander  Campbell  was  born  September  12th,  1788, 
in  the  County  of  Antrim,  Ireland.  But  though  born  in 
Ireland,  his  ancestors  were,  on  one  side,  of  Scotch  origin, 
and  on  the  other,  descended  from  the  Huguenots,  in 
France.  Inheriting  a  vigorous  and  well-balanced  physical 
and  mental  constitution,  and  trained  from  his  earliest 
years,  by  his  learned  and  accomplished  father,  to  habits  of 
severe  application,  he  grew  up  to  manhood  a  constant  and 
laborious  student — completing  his  course  of  education  in 
the  University  of  Glasgow.  Blessed  with  an  exceedingly 
intellectual  and  pious  parentage,  and  reared  in  one  of  the 
strictest  schools  of  Presbyterianism,  he  early  formed  and 
cultivated  habits  of  piety,  and  a  taste  for  theological  stud- 
ies, which  gave  shape  to  his  entire  life.  A  profound  rever- 
ence for  the  Word  of  God,  was  a  marked  feature  of  the 
character  alike  of  the  boy  and  of  the  man. 

"Coming  to  this  country  in  1809,  and  settling  in  West- 
ern Pennsylvania — whither  his  father  had  preceded  him — 

*This  biography  of  Bro.  Campbell  was  published  in  the  first  is- 
sue of  the  "Christian  Standard,"  for  which  it  was  written,  by  the 
editor,  Isaac  Errett. 


46  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

he  closely  scanned  the  condition  of  religious  society.  Both 
father  and  son  became  deeply  impressed  with  a  conviction 
of  the  evils  and  inherent  sinfulness  of  sectarianism.  Their 
first  movement,  as  reformers,  was  the  repudiation  of  hu- 
man creeds  as  tests  of  fellowship,  and  a  proposal  to  unite 
all  the  disciples  of  Jesus  in  one  church,  with  the  Bible  as 
the  only  authoritative  standard  of  faith  and  practice.  Pur- 
suing the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  as  free  as  possible  from 
party  bias,  they,  and  those  in  association  with  them,  were 
soon  convinced  that  infant  membership  in  the  church,  and 
sprinkling,  were  unauthorized  of  God.  They  were  accord- 
ingly immersed,  on  a  confession  of  faith  in  the  Son  of  God, 
and  united  with  the  regular  Baptists — stipulating,  however, 
that  they  should  not  be  required  to  subscribe  to  any  creed 
or  articles  of  faith  other  than  the  Bible.  The  prejudice 
and  passion  of  some  excitable  and  intolerant  men  who 
then  held  a  leading  influence  in  the  Redstone  Association, 
rendered  it  prudent  for  Mr.  Campbell  to  withdraw,  after 
a  few  years,  from  that  connection.  Against  his  own  wishes, 
he  was  compelled  by  the  force  of  ecclesiastical  opposition, 
to  act  separately  from  the  Baptists,  seeking  fellowship  only 
with  those  who  were  willing  to  be  governed  by  the  Bible 
alone.  Thus  cut  loose  from  his  former  connections,  and 
with  a  fierce  opposition  stirred  up  against  him,  he  gave 
himself  supremely  to  the  advocacy  and  defense  of  his  plea 
for  a  return  to  primitive  Christianity.  For  half  a  century 
he  gave  his  strength  to  this  work,  making  tributary  to  it 
all  his  treasures  of  learning  and  eloquence.  For  forty 
years — from  1823  to  1863 — he  never  failed  to  publish, 
monthly,  a  religious  magazine,  laden  with  varied  informa- 
tion, rich  thought,  keen  argument,  and  pious  sentiment. 
This  was  published,  the  first  seven  years,  under  the  name 
of  The  Christian  Baptist.  In  1830,  it  appeared  in  en- 
larged form,  under  the  title  of  The  Millennial  Harbinger. 
These  publications,  although  enriched  with  contributions 
from  many  gifted  pens,  were  principally  occupied  with  ed- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


47 


itorial  essays ;  and  on  this  mainly  depended  their  popular- 
ity and  power.  The  earlier  years  of  his  editorial  career 
were  distinguished  by  lively  and  earnest  controversy — the 
arguments  and  criticisms  of  his  opponents  being  given  in 
full  on  his  pages,  and  the  replies  exhibiting  a  completeness 
of  information  on  the  topics  discussed,  ripeness  of  judg- 
ment, strength  of  argument,  keenness  of  retort,  and  with- 
ering exposures  of  sophistry,  that  render  them  admirable 
models  of  polemical  theology.  Seldom  is  such  playful- 
ness of  wit  and  keenness  of  satire  joined  with  such  gentle- 
manly dignity  and  logical  power.  We  have  always  re- 
garded the  correspondence  with  Bishop  Semple  as  one  of 
the  finest  specimens  of  the  epistolary  style  of  discussion, 
anywhere  to  be  found. 

' 'Afterwards,  when  the  heat  of  controversy  had  some- 
what abated,  there  is  traceable,  in  his  journalism,  a  gen- 
tleness and  mellowness  which,  while  admitting  of  no  com- 
promise with  error,  dealt  more  forbearingly  with  opposi- 
tion, and  delighted  more  in  the  sweetness  of  piety,  and  in 
the  practical  aspects  of  Bible  doctrine.  Seldom,  however, 
even  in  the  hottest  of  the  strife,  were  sentences  written 
unworthy  of  the  dignity  and  benevolence  of  the  religion 
of  Jesus.  We  doubt,  in  going  over  these  forty  volumes, 
and  noting  the  wide  range  of  subjects — doctrinal,  critical, 
ethical,  historical,  and  literary — whether  the  same  amount 
and  variety  of  writing  can  be  found  in  any  controversial 
author  with  less  which,  when  dying,  he  would  wish  to 
erase. 

"In  addition  to  these  forty  volumes,  Mr.  Campbell 
published  several  other  works :  A  Translation  of  the  New 
Testament,  by  G.  Campbell,  Doddridge  and  Macknight, 
with  Prefaces,  Emendations  and  Critical  Notes  of  his  own  ; 
the  Christian  System;  Infidelity  refuted  by  Infidels;  Bap- 
tism, its  Antecedents  and  Consequents;  a  volume  of  Lit- 
erary Addresses;  a  life  of  his  father,  Thomas  Campbell, 
etc.    He  also  held  several  public  discussions,  which  were 


48 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


reported  and  published  :  A  debate  on  baptism  in  1820, 
with  Rev.  John  Walker;  one  on  the  same  subject  in  1823, 
with  Rev.  W.  L.  McCalla  ;  one  on  the  Evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity in  1829,  with  Robert  Owen  ;  one  on  Roman  Ca- 
tholicism in  1837,  with  Bishop  (now  Archbishop)  Purcell , 
and  one  on  the  points  in  dispute  between  Presbyterians 
and  Reformers,  in  1843,  w^tn  R-ev-  N.  L.  Rice.  This 
last  discussion  occupied  eighteen  days.  He  had  also  a 
written  discussion  with  Dr.  Skinner,  on  Universalism.  In 
all  these  he  maintained  a  high  reputation  for  learning, 
dignity,  and  logical  and  critical  acumen. 

"  He  was  not  less  laborious  as  a  speaker  than  as  a 
writer.  During  all  these  years,  he  traveled  extensively, 
traversing  most  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  and  visiting 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  ;  discoursing  every-where  to 
crowded  audiences,  on  the  great  themes  that  occupied  his 
heart,  and  coming  into  contact  with  many  of  the  best 
minds  of  the  age,  from  whom,  whatever  their  difference 
of  sentiment,  he  constantly  challenged  respect  and  admi- 
ration. His  discourses  were  extemporaneous,  often  ex- 
ceeding two  hours  in  length,  but  were  so  clear  in  state- 
ment, cogent  in  argument,  rich  in  diction,  and  forcible 
in  illustration,  as  to  hold  his  auditors  in  rapt  attention  to 
the  close.  His  was  not  the  highest  style  of  oratory.  In- 
deed he  rather  despised  oratory  as  an  art,  relying  on  the 
inherent  attractiveness  of  the  truths  he  uttered.  We  have 
known  him,  in  his  prime,  stand  for  two  hours,  leaning  on 
a  cane,  and  talk  in  true  conversational  style,  with  scarce 
a  gesture  in  the  entire  discourse.  But  to  a  fine  personal 
appearance  and  dignity  of  manner,  he  added  a  clearness 
of  statement,  a  force  of  reasoning,  a  purity  and  sometimes 
a  pomp  of  diction,  a  wealth  of  learning,  a  splendor  of 
imagination,  and  an  earnestness  often  rising  into  impas- 
sioned utterance,  which  clothed  his  pulpit  efforts  with  a 
high  degree  of  oratorical  excellence.  His  habit  of  extem- 
poraneous speaking  never  caused  him  to  degenerate  into 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


49 


slovenliness  of  style,  but  sometimes  led  to  undue  diffusive- 
ness and  discursiveness. 

"In  conversation,  he  expended,  perhaps  more  time  and 
strength  than  in  pulpit  discourse.  Possessed  of  a  strong 
social  nature,  and  gifted  with  rare  conversational  powers, 
his  delighted  visitors  hung  for  hours  on  the  wisdom  and 
eloquence  of  his  lips.  We  do  not  compare  him  with  John- 
son or  Coleridge,  who,  as  conversationists  won  so  great 
a  fame.  Mr.  Campbell  conversed  on  different  themes, 
and  to  a  widely  different  circle  of  hearers.  But  we  doubt 
if  any  of  his  age  excelled  him  in  capacity  to  charm  and 
instruct  in  the  social  circle.  Perhaps  more  prejudice  was 
dissipated,  and  more  adherents  were  gained,  in  these 
daily  conversations,  than  in  his  best  pulpit  efforts. 

"  It  is  not  designed  to  enter  here  on  a  consideration 
of  the  peculiar  features  of  Mr.  Campbell's  teaching. 
Briefly,  they  may  be  sketched  thus : 

"Christ,  the  only  Master:  involving  a  rejection  of  all 
human  names  and  leaderships  in  religion.  The  Bible,  the 
only  authoritative  book :  necessitating  a  denial  of  the  au- 
thority of  all  human  creeds.  The  Church  of  Christ,  as 
founded  by  him,  and  built  by  the  apostles,  for  a  habita- 
tion of  the  Spirit,  the  only  divine  institution  for  spiritual 
ends  :  logically  leading  to  the  repudiation  of  all  sects  in 
religion  as  unscriptural  and  dishonoring  to  the  head  of  the 
church.  Faith  in  Jesus,  as  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God, 
and  repentance  toward  God,  the  only  scriptural  prerequi- 
sites to  baptism  and  consequent  church-membership  ;  thus 
dismissing  all  doctrinal  speculation  and  all  theological 
dogmata,  whether  true  or  false,  as  unworthy  to  be  urged 
as  tests  of  fitness  for  membership  in  the  church  of  Christ. 
Obedience  to  the  divine  commandments,  and  not  correct- 
ness of  opinion,  the  test  of  Christian  standing.  The 
gospel  the  essential  channel  of  spiritual  influence  in  con- 
version ;  thus  ignoring  all  reliance  on  abstract  and  imme- 
diate influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  calling  the  attention 
5 


50 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


of  inquirers  away  from  dreams,  visions,  and  impressions, 
which  are  so  liable  to  deceive,  to  the  living  and  powerful 
truths  of  the  gospel,  which  are  reliable,  immutable,  and 
eternal.  The  truth  of  the  gospel,  to  enlighten  ;  the  love 
of  God  in  the  gospel,  to  persuade;  the  ordinances  of  the 
gospel,  as  tests  of  submission  to  the  divine  will  i  the  prom- 
ises of  ths  gospel,  as  the  evidence  of  pardon  and  accept- 
ance ;  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  and  through  all  these,  ac- 
complishing his  work  of  enlightening,  convincing  of  sin, 
guiding  the  penitent  soul  to  pardon,  and  bearing  witness 
to  the  obedient  believer,  of  his  adoption  into  the  family 
of  God. 

"  He  was  intensely  Protestant,  steadily  cherishing 
through  his  life  the  cardinal  principles  of  what  is  called 
evangelical  faith  and  piety — the  divinity  of  Christ,  his  sac- 
rificial death,  as  a  sin-offering,  and  the  indwelling  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  believers.  A  Trinitarian  in 
sentiment,  he  repudiated  the  unscriptural  technicalities  of 
Trinitarian  theology,  as  involving  a  mischievous  strife  of 
words.  A  devout  believer  in  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  the 
Lamb  of  God,  he  would  not  teach,  as  gospel,  any  theory  of 
atonement.  A  stout  advocate  of  spiritual  influence  and 
special  providence,  he  was  the  enemy  of  all  theories  of 
abstract  spiritual  power,  as  tending  to  ignore  the  word  of 
God,  and  leading  to  a  deceptive  trust  in  psychological  pe- 
culiarities as  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  Sternly  op- 
posed to  baptismal  regeneration,  he  still  insisted  on  the 
baptism  of  the  believing  penitent  "for  the  remission  of 
sins."  Educated  in  Calvinism,  and  always  inclining  to 
that  school,  he  was  so  fearful  of  the  tendency  of  all  specu- 
lative theology,  that  it  is  difficult  to  trace  his  own  proclivi- 
ties on  these  questions  anywhere  in  his  voluminous  writ- 
ings. Deeply  sympathizing  with  evangelical  Protestantism, 
in  its  grand  ideas  and  principles,  he  nevertheless  looked 
on  its  present  divided  and  distracted  state  as  evidence 
that  Protestants  are  only  partially  rescued  from  the  great 


IN   THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


51 


apostasy;  regarded  the  enforcement  of  speculative  doc- 
trines and  creed  authority  as  the  tap-root  of  sectarianism; 
and  insisted,  through  half  a  century,  on  the  abandonment 
of  party  names,  leaders,  and  symbols,  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  union  of  all  believers  in  one  body;  arguing  that 
thus  only  have  we  a  right  to  expect  the  conversion  of  the 
world.  He  suffered  much  unjust  reproach  for  a  plea 
which,  just  as  he  was  passing  away,  he  saw  rising  into  ex- 
ceeding interest  among  all  evangelical  parties. 

"As  an  educator,  he  is  entitled  to  the  honor  of  success- 
fully instituting  a  college  course,  with  the  Bible  as  a  text- 
book, and  as  the  basis  of  the  entire  curriculum  of  study. 
He  gave  the  ripest  years  of  his  life  to  the  erection  and  en- 
dowment of  Bethany  College,  from  which  hundreds  of 
young  men  have  gone  forth,  bearing  the  impress  of  his 
spirit,  and  the  molding  influence  of  his  noble  Christian 
life. 

"  In  estimating  the  character  of  this  illustrious  man,  it 
ought  not  to  be  forgotten  that  he  possessed  eminently 
practical  talents.  He  was  no  recluse,  shut  out  from  sym- 
pathy with  the  activities  of  life.  He  was  diligent  in  busi- 
ness as  well  as  fervent  in  spirit,  seeking  to  serve  the  Lord 
in  the  former  as  religiously  as  in  the  latter.  He  had 
splendid  business  capacity,  and  employed  it  to  great  ad- 
vantage ;  so  that,  while  traveling  and  preaching  at  his  own 
expense,  entertaining  generously  the  throngs  that  gathered 
at  Bethany,  and  meeting  the  constant  demands  on  his 
purse  which  every  public  man  of  generous  nature  is  plied 
with,  he  was  still  enabled  to  accumulate  considerable 
wealth.  He  once  told  us  of  his  standing  at  an  early  day 
on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Cleveland,  when  engaged 
with  his  father-in-law  in  locating  lands.  His  quick  per- 
ceptions took  in  at  a  glance  the  advantages  of  this  site, 
and  he  urged  the  propriety  of  purchasing  in  a  locality 
which  it  was  evident  would  one  day  be  a  great  commercial 


52 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF   THE  DISCIPLES 


center.  His  father-in-law  did  not  readily  accept  the 
prophecy,  and  their  lands  were  selected  in  Holmes  County. 

"  Once  only  did  he  venture  on  the  stormy  sea  of  poli- 
tics. In  1829,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  people  of 
West  Virginia,  and  with  a  special  pledge  from  his  friends 
that  he  should  not  be  required  to  take  the  stump,  he  con- 
sented to  be  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  Virginia  Consti- 
tutional Convention.  He  was  elected.  He  bore  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  proceedings  of  that  convention,  acting 
on  the  Judiciary  Committee  with  Chief  Justice  Marshall, 
on  intimate  terms  with  ex-President  Madison,  and  coming 
into  conflict  with  John  Randolph  and  other  leading  minds 
of  Eastern  Virginia,  in  his  advocacy  of  the  interests  of  the 
western  portion  of  the  State.  In  all  this,  he  never  for  a 
moment  forfeited  the  dignity  of  his  character  as  a  Chris- 
tian minister. 

"  His  reputation  was  without  spot.  His  bitterest  ene- 
mies failed  to  find  a  flaw  in  his  character  for  truth,  integ- 
rity, and  goodness.  But  to  those  who  knew  him  well,  he 
was  most  cheerful,  gentle,  genial,  just,  and  devout ;  and 
as  dearly  beloved  for  his  goodness  as  he  was  venerated  for 
his  greatness.  It  will  ever  be  remembered  to  his  honor, 
that  with  an  almost  unbounded  personal  influence  over  a 
religious  community  numbering  hundreds  of  thousands,  he 
never  sought  the  least  ecclesiastical  control.  Although 
the  telegram  from  Wheeling  announcing  his  death  spoke 
of  him  as  ' '  Bishop  Campbell,"  it  will  surprise  many  to 
learn  that  he  was  merely  one  of  the  bishops  of  the  congre- 
gation meeting  in  Bethany,  and  that  outside  of  this,  he 
never  sought  and  never  exercised,  the  least  ecclesiastical 
authority. 

''For  many  years  he  was  possessed  of  the  conviction 
that  the  year  1866  would  exhaust  many  prophetic  dates, 
and  witness  great  changes  in  ecclesiastical  and  spiritual 
affairs.  It  is  not  unpleasant  to  think  that  this  has  become 
to  him  the  year  of  years,  and  to  his  ransomed  spirit  will 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


53 


unseal  many  of  the  mysteries  of  apocalyptic  visions  which, 
here,  even  his  piercing  intellect  failed  to  penetrate. 

"  He  passed  away  on  the  Lord's  day — the  day  in  which 
he  so  much  delighted,  to  the  peace  and  bliss  of  an  eternal 
Sabbath.  In  his  later  years,  the  personal  dignity  and  of- 
ficial relations  of  the  Son  of  God,  was  his  constant  theme 
of  discourse.  Who  can  imagine  the  reverence  and  rap- 
ture that  shall  fill  his  spirit  when  beholding  the  glory  of 
Immanuel,  whom,  unseen,  he  loved  so  well,  and  at  whose 
feet  he  laid,  adoringly,  the  gifts  of  his  nature,  and  the 
toils  of  his  life  ! 

"He  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1866, 
near  midnight,  at  his  home  in  Bethany,  West  Virginia. 

"  It  was  an  event  not  unexpected.  Coming  '  in  a  good 
old  age,'  when  his  work  was  done,  and  his  tired  faculties 
craved  rest  from  the  incessant  anxiety  and  toil  of  half  a 
century ;  coming  slowly,  attended  with  but  little  suffering, 
allowing  his  last  years  to  be  spent  pleasantly  in  the  scenes 
he  loved  best,  and  his  last  hours  to  be  cheered  and  soothed 
by  the  fondest  ministrations  of  conjugal  and  filial  affec- 
tion, death  appeared  in  a  milder  form,  and  granted  a 
gentler  descent  to  the  tomb,  than  is  often  permitted." 


54 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Association  in  New  Lisbon,  1827 — An  evangelist  appointed- 
Biography  of  Walter  Scott — Scott  among  the  churches. 

AS  at  the  coming  of  day,  the  light  springs  forth  in 
no  one  locality,  but  brightens  alike  over  the  whole 
land  ;  so,  in  many  places,  with  no  traceable  connec- 
tion, the  same  investigations  were  going  on,  and  the 
same  conclusions  were  reached  from  the  careful  study 
of  the  New  Testament.  The  style  of  speech  indica- 
ted the  change  of  thought.  Sect  language  gradually 
gave  place  to  Scripture  terms  and  phrases,  as  more 
appropriate  and  correct,  and  authorized  by  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Instead  of  "  relating  a  Chris- 
tian experience,"  converts  now  began  to  "confess 
their  faith  in  Christ."  Church  records  assumed  the 
scriptural  designation  of  "  disciples."  The  spirit 
of  research  was  fully  set  free.  It  peered  into  every 
thing,  to  sift  out  what  was  erroneous,  and  to  make  all 
things  according  to  the  pattern  shown  by  the  apostles 
in  the  New  Testament.  Even  from  the  hymns  and 
the  prayers  were  eliminated  objectionable  terms  and 
forms  of  speech,  carrying  in  them  thoughts  and  peti- 
tions unsanctioned  by  the  Word  of  God.  The  dia- 
lect of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  language  of  apostles 
and  prophets,  it  was  urged,  must  be  substituted  for 
the  corrupt  language  of  the  great  apostasy  which  still 
pollutes  the  tongue  of  Christendom.  The  reformation 
must  be  radical.  From  the  language  of  the  Jews,  the 
language  of  Ashdod  must  be  expurgated.  Thus, 
many  terms  that  were  trite  and  dear  from  their  fa- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


55 


miliar  association  in  religious  life  were  objected  to  as 
improper,  and  rejected  as  misleading. 

Call  for  an  Evangelist. 

As  the  Calvinistic  theory  of  conversion  began  to 
yield,  and  it  was  seen  that  sinners  have  something  to 
do  in  hearing  the  gospel,  that  they  may  believe  and 
be  saved,  and,  also,  that  the  church  has  in  her  hands 
the  work  of  preaching  it,  the  feeling  began  to  take 
definite  form  that  the  time  had  come  to  take  this  re- 
sponsibility which  was  devolved  upon  her  by  the  Lord 
Jesus,  to  convert  the  world  through  the  proclamation 
of  the  glad  tidings.  It  was  apparent,  no  less  in  the 
wants  of  the  people  than  in  the  light  of  the  Sacred 
Scriptures,  that  a  suitable  person  should  be  selected 
to  travel  among  the  churches,  to  preach  the  gospel, 
and  to  set  things  in  order  according  to  the  teachings 
of  the  primitive  church.  So  evident  had  it  become 
that  this  long  neglected  duty  must  be  resumed,  that  a 
petition  to  this  end  was  sent  to  the  Mahoning  Asso- 
ciation from  the  church  in  Braceville.  It  was  under- 
stood that  the  church  in  Nelson  was  consulted,  and 
that  it  concurred  in  the  movement.  Mr.  Campbell 
came  to  this  association  with  the  same  purpose  in  his 
heart.  Passing  through  Steubenville,  he  called  on 
Walter  Scott,  principal  of  the  academy  in  that  place, 
and  persuaded  him  to  come  to  New  Lisbon,  with  the 
intention  of  securing  his  appointment  as  the  evan- 
gelist of  the  association. 

On  this  occasion,  memorable  in  history,  the  asso- 
ciation met  by  regular  appointment  in  New  Lisbon, 
Columbiana  County,  August  23, 1 827.  Jacob  Osborne 
was  moderator,  and  John  Rudolph,  Jr.,  clerk. 


$6  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


The  churches  and  delegates  composing  the  associ- 
ation, were  as  follows : 


CHURCHES. 

NAMES  OF  MESSENGERS. 

Added  by 
Letter. 

Added  l>y 
Bapttain. 

Dismissed. 

X 
o_ 
c" 
o> 

n 
o. 

d 

o 

S> 

us 

p* 

Total. 

3 

4 

4 

2 

72 

1 

New  Lisbon.,  -j 
Mantua   and  J 

2 

1 

41 

Q 

26 

John  Rudolph,  Jr... 

3 

49 

Hubbard  j 

W  illiam  Bacon 

I 

17 

Braceville  | 

Yellow  Creek  | 

Val.  of  Achor  j 
Canfield  j 

5 

2 

I 

William  McGavern. 

5 

I 

2 

30 

i 

2 

70 

i 

28 

Wellsburg  Va  I 
( 

Alexander  Campbell 

Arthur  G.  Hayden.. 

ii 

5 

3 

1 

I 

56 

3 

4 

34 

Youngstown..  -| 
Randolph.....  | 

No  intelligence. 

No  intelligence. 
Abijah  Sturdevant.. 

William  Churchill  .. 

13 

No  intelligence. 
Total  number. 

34 

13 

14 

"3 

4 

492 

Besides  these  accredited  messengers,  the  following 
preachers  were  present,  who,  by  a  resolution  of  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


57 


association,  were  invited  to  a  seat  in  its  counsels  : 
Walter  Scott,  Samuel  Holmes,  William  West,  and 
Sidney  Rigdon. 

There  were  present,  also,  J.  Merrill,  John  Secrest, 
and  Joseph  Gaston,  advocates  of  the  gospel  among 
the  "  Christian  "  fraternity.  These  brethren  were,  by 
resolution,  made  equally  welcome  to  the  sittings  of  the 
association. 

The  following  petition  from  the  church  in  Brace- 
ville,  Trumbull  County,  sent  by  the  hand  of  Bro. 
Osborne,  was  received  and  entertained  : 

"  We  wish  that  this  association  may  take  into  serious  con- 
sideration the  peculiar  situation  of  the  churches  of  the  as- 
sociation, and  if  it  would  be  a  possible  thing  for  an  evan- 
gelical preacher  to  be  employed  to  travel  and  teach  among 
the  churches,  we  think  that  a  blessing  would  follow." 

The  action  of  this  convention  of  churches  in  rela- 
tion to  this  subject,  is  reported  as  follows : 

"Voted,  That  all  the  teachers  of  Christianity  present,  be 
a  committee  to  nominate  a  person  to  travel  and  labor  among 
the  churches,  and  to  suggest  a  plan  for  the  support  of  the 
person  so  appointed." 

The  preachers  present  composing  this  committee, 
were  the  following :  Adamson  Bentley,  Joab  Gaskill, 
Jacob  Osborne,  A.  Campbell,  Abijah  Sturdevant,  Wal- 
ter Scott,  Samuel  Holmes,  William  West,  Sidney 
Rigdon,  J.  Merrill,  John  Secrest,  Joseph  Gaston — 
twelve  ;  besides,  Darwin  Atwater,  Zeb.  Rudolph,  and 
John  Jackman,  who  soon  after  became  prominent  as 
teachers  of  the  gospel.  Let  us  now  hear  their  unan- 
imous report : 

"  The  committee,  to  which  was  referred  the  nomination 


58 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


of  a  person  to  labor  among  the  churches,  and  to  recom- 
mend a  plan  for  his  support,  reported  as  follows : 

"  i.  That  Bro.  Walter  Scott  is  a  suitable  person  for  the 
task,  and  that  he  is  willing,  provided  the  association  con- 
cur in  his  appointment,  to  devote  his  whole  energies  to 
the  work. 

"  2.  That  voluntary  and  liberal  contributions  be  recom- 
mended to  the  churches  for  creating  a  fund  for  his  support. 

"3.  That  at  the  discretion  of  Bro.  Scott,  as  far  as  re- 
spects time  and  place,  four  quarterly  meetings  for  public 
worship,  be  held  in  the  bounds  of  the  association  this 
year;  and  at  these  meetings  such  contributions  as  have 
been  made,  in  the  churches  in  those  vicinities,  be  handed 
over  to  Bro.  Scott,  and  an  account  be  kept  of  the  same  to 
be  produced  at  the  next  association  ;  also,  that  at  any  time 
and  in  any  church,  when  and  where  Bro.  Scott  may  be  la- 
boring, any  contributions  made  to  him  shall  be  accounted 
for  to  the  next  association. 

"Voted,  That  the  above  report,  in  all  its  items,  be 
adopted." 

These  men  were  devoutly  in  earnest  in  their  pur- 
pose. An  extract  from  the  records  is  instructive  on 
this  point : 

"  Met  Lord's  day  at  sunrise,  in  the  Baptist  meeting- 
house, for  prayer  and  praise,  and  continued  till  eight 
o'clock." 

They  were  not  sleepy  drones.  The  morning  sun, 
at  his  rising,  found  them  assembled  in  prayer.  Three 
hours  and  more  they  lifted  to  the  Mercy-seat  their 
suppliant  appeals,  while  praises  went  to  the  third 
heaven  from  souls  all  dewy  with  the  morning  grace, 
which  came  plentifully  upon  them.  Great  and  glori- 
ous epochs  in  the  kingdom  are  the  birth  of  great 
prayer. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


59 


'*  Met  again  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  Lisbon, 
where,  after  public  worship,  Bro.  Jacob  Osborne  delivered 
a  discourse,  Heb.  ist  chapter.  He  was  followed  by  Bro. 
A.  Campbell,  who  delivered  a  discourse  on  Good  Works, 
predicated  upon  the  last  paragraph  of  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  and  the  conclusion  of  Matt.  25  th  chapter. 

"  After  a  recess  of  a  few  minutes,  and  the  immersion  of 
some  disciples  in  the  creek,  the  brethren  met  at  the  Bap- 
tist meeting  house  and  broke  bread,  after  which  they  dis- 
persed, much  comforted  and  edified  by  the  exercises  of 
the  day." 

This  association  deserves  much  more  than  a  pass- 
ing notice.  It  was  the  first  ecclesiastical  body  in 
modern  times,  which,  transcending  the  limits  of  its 
own  constitutional  prerogatives,  initiated  a  movement 
exactly  conformed  to  the  word  of  God,  and  utterly  dis- 
entangled from  all  sectarian  restraints.  Let  us  pause 
to  consider  its  action  : 

1.  The  association  threw  open  its  doors,  and 
brought  in,  as  a  composite  element,  disciples  of  Christ, 
ministers  of  another  ecclesiastical  connection,  making 
these  ministers  fully  equal  in  its  action  ;  thus  setting 
aside  its  denominational  character,  and  standing  on 
the  broad,  firm  charter  of  the  Christian  religion 
alone.  These  men  were  of  the  "  Christian  connec- 
tion," and  the  most  that  was  known  of  either  party  re- 
specting the  other  was  that  each  respectively  was  zeal- 
ously, and  conscientiously  engaged  in  preaching  the 
gospel  as  he  best  understood  it.  Here  was  a  practical 
exhibition  of  the  union  of  Christians  for  a  common 
purpose. 

2.  Here  was  the  appointment  of  an  evangelist  in 
the  pure  New  Testament  idea  of  that  official  minister. 


60  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

by  the  concurrent  action  of  the  ministry  of  a  given 
district  of  country.  In  this  it  took  upon  itself  the 
new  duty  of  establishing  and  regulating  an  evangeli- 
cal agency,  or  ministry. 

3.  This  association,  like  all  others,  had  restricted  its 
action  to  sundry  ecclesiastical  matters,  making  no  pro- 
vision for  evangelical  operations.  Its  duty  was  mainly 
the  care  of  churches,  responding  to  questions,  and 
hearing  cases  of  appeal ;  affairs  which  churches  can 
manage  more  successfully  at  home.  This  association 
assumed  a  new  power,  and  with  this  higher  preroga- 
tive, entered  upon  the  discharge  of  a  far  higher  and 
wider  responsibility.  And  what  was  it  ?  Simply  to  re- 
vive the  work  laid  by  divine  authority  upon  its  hand  at 
the  beginning,  to  "  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 
This  pure,  simple,  most  significant  act  was  here  for 
the  first  time  performed  by  a  body  of  churches  assem- 
bled in  delegate  capacity.  The  selection  of  an  evan- 
gelist to  travel  among  the  congregations  of  a  given 
district,  clothing  him  with  power  to  set  things  in  order, 
to  preach  the  gospel,  and  by  every  means  to  promote 
the  work  of  Christ,  deserves  the  clearest  and  most  em- 
phatic statement  as  a  direct,  practical  measure  in  re- 
storing the  apostolic  order  to  the  world. 

4.  No  one  church  assumed  the  grave  responsibil- 
ity of  selecting,  authorizing,  and  sending  forth  an 
evangelist.  The  suggestion  for  such  an  appointment, 
while  coming  from  one  of  the  churches,  at  the  instance 
of  a  wise  preacher  among  them,  was,  by  the  associa- 
tion, wisely  and  properly  referred  to  the  ministers  of 
the  gospel  for  full  consideration  and  final  action. 
And  their  action  in  the  premises,  duly  taken  and  de- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


6l 


clared,  received  the  cordial  indorsement  and  acquies- 
cence of  all  the  churches  represented. 

5.  But,  further,  the  association  bound  its  evangelist 
by  no  doctrinal  restrictions  or  limitations.  No  creed 
basis,  no  confession  of  doctrines,  no  articles  of  belief: 
he  was  simply  to  "preach  the  word." 

This  was  a  bold  and  untried  step.  It  was  a  long  step 
toward  Mount  Zion.  But  it  was  a  safe  step,  as  the 
Scriptures  can  lead  no  one  astray  ;  and,  also,  it  was 
the  only  method  of  bringing  about  the  restoration  of 
original  Christianity  in  fact,  in  faith,  and  in  form,  in 
letter,  in  spirit,  and  in  practice. 

Biography  of  Walter  Scott. 

Walter  Scott  was  bom  in  Moffat,  Dumfriesshire,  Scot- 
land, October  31,  1796.  His  father,  John  Scott,  a  gen- 
tleman of  fine  culture,  was  a  professor  of  music.  His 
mother,  Mary  Innes  Scott,  was  a  person  of  most  pure  life, 
and  eminently  religious.  They  had  ten  children,  five 
sons  and  five  daughters ;  Walter  was  the  sixth  child. 

A  remarkable  providence  is  related  as  occurring  in 
connection  with  the  death  of  his  parents.  His  father  went 
to  the  town  of  Annan  on  business  of  his  profession,  and 
died  there  suddenly.  Mrs.  Scott  was  so  deeply  affected 
by  the  intelligence  of  his  demise,  that  she  died  immedi- 
ately, and  was  buried  with  him  in  the  same  grave. 

He  had  a  maternal  uncle  in  the  custom-house,  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  who  held  his  situation  for  thirty  years 
under  all  the  changes  of  administration.  The  death  of 
this  man  was  also  remarkable.  He  died  on  his  knees  while 
in  prayer. 

The  Scott  family  were  all  strict  members  of  the  Kirk  of 
Scotland.  Walter  Scott  early  displayed  the  fine  qualities 
of  character  for  which  he  afterwards  became  conspicuous. 


62  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

He  was  intellectual,  sensitive,  tender-hearted,  and  pious. 
He  was  educated  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 

A  characteristic  incident  is  related  concerning  him 
which  occurred  while  he  was  pursuing  his  collegiate  studies. 
When  about  sixteen  he  walked  out  one  evening  into  the 
city,  and  not  returning  as  soon  as  his  parents  expected,  at 
a  late  hour  they  sent  his  older  brother  James  in  search  of 
him.  James  explored  the  city  diligently,  but  failed  to  find 
him  till  long  after  midnight.  He  found  him  in  the  midst 
of  a  crowd  singing  the  popular  Scottish  airs,  collecting  mon- 
ey in  this  way  for  a  poor  blind  beggar.  When  accosted 
by  his  brother,  he  seemed  not  aware  of  the  lateness  of  the 
hour,  so  completely  was  his  young  and  benevolent  heart  in- 
terested in  procuring  relief  for  the  needy  man. 

On  invitation  of  his  uncle  in  New  York,  George  Innes, 
Esq.,  he  crossed  the  ocean.  He  resided  awhile  in  his  un- 
cle's family,  and  also,  for  a  time,  taught  a  classical  school 
on  Long  Island.  With  the  spirit  of  adventure,  common  to 
the  young,  he  came  to  Pittsburgh,  crossing  the  mountains 
afoot  in  company  with  a  young  companion.  He  soon  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a  fellow-countryman,  Mr.  George  For- 
rester, in  whose  family  he  found  a  welcome  and  for  consid- 
erable time  a  home.  Mr.  Forrester  was  a  preacher  of  the 
Haldanean  school,  who  had  prepared  for  the  ministry  in 
the  institution  established  in  Scotland  by  the  celebrated 
Robert  and  James  Alexander  Haldane,  for  educating  young 
men  for  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  He  was  conducting 
a  school,  and  also  preaching  to  a  small  membership  whom 
he  had  collected  together.  The  friendly  hearts  of  these  men, 
as  well  as  the  tie  of  nationality,  created  a  warm  attachment 
between  them.  Mr.  Scott  was  here  invited  to  the  examina- 
tion of  the  claims  of  pedobaptism,  in  which  he  had  been 
trained  up.  He  had  too  much  reverence  for  the  authority 
of  God's  Word  to  resist  its  teaching  ;  so  after  a  full  search 
for  scriptural  authority  for  this  practice  of  his  church,  and 
finding  none,  he  abandoned  it  as  a  defenseless  relic  of  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


63 


Papacy  ;  and,  accordingly,  was  immersed  by  his  friend 
Mr.  Forrester. 

The  new  views  which  presented  themselves  to  him  by 
this  new  search  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  fresh  in- 
terest awakened  by  them  in  a  mind  naturally  inquisitive 
and  greatly  devoted  to  religious  pursuits,  give  him  a  pow- 
erful impulse  to  farther  scriptural  investigations.  He  rap- 
idly outstripped  his  teachers.  He  was  not  long  in  acquir- 
ing a  wonderful  store  of  knowledge  of  the  Christian  relig- 
ion. He  opened  a  classical  and  English  high  school ;  but 
the  duties  of  that  profession,  a  profession  in  which  he  was 
eminently  successful,  did  not  interfere  with  his  assiduous 
prosecution  of  the  systematic  study  of  the  Bible. 

About  this  time,  at  one  of  Mr.  Campbell's  visits  to 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  he  and  Mr.  Scott  became  personally 
acquainted.  By  reputation  they  were  not  strangers.  These 
men  discovered  in  each  other  so  many  admirable  and  bril- 
liant qualities  of  character,  intellectual  and  social,  that  a 
lasting  friendship  was  formed  between  them.  This  coales- 
cence of  feeling,  however,  was  quite  as  much  the  result  of 
the  coincidence  of  their  conclusions  on  great  scriptural 
themes ;  their  agreement  in  the  power  of  the  gospel  to  re- 
cover Christendom  from  its  numberless  sects  and  divisions ; 
and  to  restore  the  unity  of  the  "  faith  once  delivered  to  the 
saints."  From  that  day  they  were  mutual  co-operants  in 
the  common  cause  of  re-proclaiming  to  the  world  the  gos- 
pel as  it  began  in  Jerusalem  on  the  first  Pentecost  after  the 
Lord's  ascension. 

Mr.  Campbell,  at  the  time  of  his  introduction  to  Scott, 
was  about  issuing  a  monthly,  designed  to  develop  the  truth 
of  the  gospel,  and  to  plead  for  the  union  of  Christians  on 
Bible  grounds.  Mr.  Scott  fell  in  with  the  proposition,  and 
espoused  the  scheme.  Mr.  Campbell  proposed  the  name 
"The  Christian,"  as  a  suitable  title  for  his  new  periodi- 
cal. Mr.  Scott  thought  "The  Christian  Baptist ' '  would  be 
a  title  more  likely  to  win  an  immediate  hearing.  This 


64  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

was  agreed  upon.  And  in  the  very  beginning  of  that  mas- 
terly work,  the  grand  triumvirate,  Thomas  Campbell, 
Alexander  Campbell,  and  Walter  Scott  appeared  side  by 
side  as  contributors  to  its  pages.  The  appearance  of  that 
periodical,  August,  1823,  forms  a  marked  epoch  in  the  pub- 
lic announcement  of  the  principles  of  a  much-needed  re- 
formation. Mr.  Scott  remained  yet  a  few  years  in  Pitts- 
burgh, where  he  became  acquainted,  and  for  a  time  asso- 
ciated, with  Sidney  Rigdon,  then  pastor  of  a  small  Bap- 
tist church  in  the  city.  The  two  communions,  that  under 
Rigdon  and  the  company  to  whom  Scott  preached,  united 
together  and  became  one  body. 

Early  in  1827  we  find  him  in  Steuben ville,  established 
in  the  academy,  as  already  related.  He  had  issued  a  pros- 
pectus, and  was  on  the  eve  of  commencing  the  publication 
of  the  "  Millennial  Herald,"  to  be  devoted  to  the  statement 
and  defense  of  the  gospel,  and  to  the  publication  of  views  of 
the  millennium,  in  which  he  had  become  much  interested. 

"The  heart  of  man  deviseth  his  way;  but  the  Lord 
directeth  his  steps."  A  foreseeing  providence  was  prepar- 
ing a  far  different  theater  for  the  display  of  his  remarkable 
talents,  and  was  at  the  same  time  preparing  him  for  that 
field.  This  was  the  work  of  an  evangelist  opened  for  him 
in  New  Lisbon;  which,  after  some  persuasion,  he  accepted 
with  all  his  heart.  His  great  powers  were  now  plumed 
for  great  purposes.  Here  was  scope  and  comprehension 
for  his  gifts  of  oratory,  of  argumentation,  and  persuasion. 
All  his  talents  for  analysis  and  classification  were  here  to 
find  amplest  scope  and  fullest  display.  Many  and  glori- 
ous events  were  born  the  day  that  the  arrangement  was 
completed  to  send  Scott  forth  to  preach  the  gospel ;  the 
gospel  long  thought  to  be  a  mystery,  but  soon  to  come  as 
a  revelation  to  the  people. 

The  history  of  this  extraordinary  man  is  in  the  pages 
that  follow ;  rather,  in  the  mighty  revolution  in  religious 
s  jciety  in  America,  which,  like  a  majestic  stream,  is  widen- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


65 


ing  and  deepening  in  its  flow ;  a  revolution  to  which  he  has 
contributed  very  much  by  his  discoveries  in  Bible  truth,  and 
by  his  powers  of  eloquence  and  argument  in  presenting 
and  defending  it  before  the  people. 

His  style  was  chaste  and  classical.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  faith,  and  of  a  most  lovable  and  gentle  spirit.  In 
discourse  he  was  often  bold  as  a  lion ;  yet  he  as  often 
played  among  lambs.  He  came  before  the  world  with  a 
mission  on  his  soul ;  the  restoration  of  the  gospel  plea, 
the  "  advocacy,"  as  he  termed  it.  He  affirmed  that  the 
gospel  contains  an  advocacy  for  converting  sinners  to  Christ. 
This  appeal,  with  its  appointed  conditions  of  pardon,  con- 
stituted Scott's  special  mission  to  the  men  of  this  genera- 
tion. Long  and  faithfully  did  he  conduct  the  high  argu- 
ment ;  and  many  thousands  of  his  beloved  Master's  chil- 
dren will  rise  up  and  bless  his  memory. 

He  fell  asleep,  full  of  faith  and  hope,  at  his  residence 
in  Mayslick,  Ky.,  Tuesday  evening,  April  23,  1861,  in  the 
sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

Scott  among  the  Churches. 

After  his  appointment  Scott  lost  no  time  in  prep- 
aration for  his  new  duty.  Giving-  up  both  his  paper 
and  his  academy,  and  leaving  his  family  in  Steuben- 
ville,  he  was  almost  immediately  on  the  territory  he 
was  to  traverse.  Great  hopes  were  entertained  of  the 
results  of  his  labors.  Yet  no  man,  himself  not  ex- 
cepted, had  any  adequate  conception  of  the  great  and 
unparalleled  blessings  which  were  in  store  for  the 
people  within  that  year. 

The  first  of  the  quarterly  meetings  recommended 
in  the  report  of  the  committee  at  New  Lisbon,  was 
held  in  Braceville,  then  the  residence  of  Jacob  Os- 
borne, the  brother  who  moved  the  association  to  ap- 
6 


66 


EARLY   HISTORY   OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


point  an  *  evangelical  preacher."  Bro.  Marcus  Bos- 
worth  also  resided  in  Braceville,  a  young  preacher 
of  warm  heart  and  of  sweet  and  winning  speech.  It 
was  Lord's  day,  September  16,  1827.  It  was  largely 
attended,  and  was  prolific  in  important  results.  The 
principal  preachers  were  Scott,  Bentley,  and  Osborne. 
Darwin  Atwater,  whose  clear,  personal  recollections 
avouch  this  record,  was  also  present,  with  others 
from  abroad.  The  principles  of  reform  were  making 
constant  and  sure  progress  in  many  places,  though 
they  were  yet  encumbered  and  delayed  by  the  cau- 
tious prudence  of  some,  and  by  the  opposition  of 
others.  The  leading  steps  of  its  march  are  suscepti- 
ble of  historic  record.  The  first  distinctive  position 
assumed  was  the  plea  for  the  union  of  Christians  on 
apostolic  ground.  This,  as  a  consequence,  directed 
an  enfilading  fire  against  the  works  in  which  the 
creed  power  was  intrenched.  Creeds,  confessions 
of  faith  as  terms  of  membership  and  communion, 
articles  of  church  government  separate  from  the  New 
Testament,  and  distinctive  of  the  sect,  with  all  that 
pertained  to  them,  were  gradually  losing  ground  ; 
while  at  the  same  time,  as  a  correlative  part  of  the 
plea,  the  fullness,  sufficiency,  plainness,  and  author- 
ity of  the  word  of  God  for  all  the  purposes  of  faith 
and  practice,  were  urged  with  a  great  variety  of  ar- 
gument, illustration,  and  Scripture  testimony. 

Closely  allied  to  this  came,  secondly,  the  whole 
subject  of  conversion,  regeneration,  and  evidence  of 
pardon.  The  theory  of  metaphysical  regeneration, 
brought  into  the  church  by  St.  Augustine,  in  the 
fourth  century,  formed  into  system  by  the  equally 
illustrious  Calvin,  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  lin- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  6j 

gering  in  most  of  the  modern  standards  of  ortho- 
doxy, was  put  to  the  most  rigid  test  of  the  word  of 
God.  This  involved  the  whole  subject  of  spiritual 
influence  and  illumination.  And  while  the  reform- 
ers maintained,  on  Scripture  grounds,  a  firm  belief 
in  the  converting  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  his 
actual  presence  in  the  hearts  of  Christians,  they  as- 
serted that  the  work  of  conversion  was  wrought 
through  the  knowledge  and  belief  of  the  gospel.  As 
the  Holy  Scriptures  were  the  only  guide,  practices 
untaught  therein  were  repudiated  as  of  human  ori- 
gin, and  dangerous  to  the  peace  and  purity  of  the 
church.  On  this  ground,  infant  church-membership 
was  delivered  back  to  the  papacy,  whence  it  origi- 
nated, with  "  confirmation,"  its  consequent  and  com- 
plement, sponsorship,  and  whatever  depended  upon 
this  postscript  to  the  apostolic  gospel.  Conversion 
without  faith  is  impossible  ;  but  faith  comes  of  testi- 
mony— divine  testimony,  the  word  of  God.  Rom.  x: 
17.  But  this  must  be  preached;  and  so  it  is  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  which  produces  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ. 

A  link  was  yet  wanting  to  complete  the  theory  of 
salvation.  That  the  sufferings  of  Christ  are  the 
procuring  cause  of  pardon,  was  clearly  asserted. 
Faith,  involving  a  personal  trust  in  Jesus  Christ,  was 
becoming  equally  clear  and  well  established  in  the 
widening  plea.  But  what  is  the  evidence  of  pardon  ? 
the  "  witness,"  the  assurance  of  the  penitent  sinner's 
acceptance  ?  "  Experience  !  "  Yes  ;  but  experiences 
are  both  variable,  as  different  •  persons  "experience 
a  hope"  at  different  places  and  by  different  processes, 
and  fallible  as  these  experiences  are  formed  according 


68  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

to  the  models  of  teaching  under  which  the  convert 
has  been  trained.  Cases  are  numerous  and  painful 
in  which  after  years  of  agonizing  self-abasement,  the 
load  of  conscious  sins  still  lies  on  the  heart.  A 
large  number  of  professing  Christians  are  subject  to 
conflicting  doubt,  and  harassed  with  distressing  un- 
certainty of  their  acceptance  ;  very  many  "  seek"  on 
in  silent,  despairing  darkness  ;  not  a  few  throw  them- 
selves into  the  vortex  of  infidelity,  while  some  lose 
their  reason  in  the  fruitless  search  for  the  evidence 
that  God  has  spoken  peace  to  their  souls. 

Has  the  gospel,  perfect  in  all  its  provisions,  com- 
plete in  all  its  appointments  for  salvation,  left  this 
one  point  without  a  testimony — without  a  provided 
assurance  ?  Does  God  in  his  gospel  show  sinners 
their  danger,  arouse  them  by  faith  to  flee  from  "  the 
wrath  to  come,"  lead  them  to  repentance  by  the  suf- 
ferings of  his  Son,  and  when  they  come  crying  for 
mercy,  is  this  same  gospel  unfurnished  with  a  pro- 
vision special  to  this  very  need,  which  shall  uni- 
formly and  unfailingly  meet  them  with  the  needed 
assurance  of  pardon  ? 

The  divine  testimony  had  not  been  explored  in 
vain  touching  this  point.  In  essays,  in  debate,  in 
conversations,  the  unequivocal  declaration  of  the  new 
Institution  had  been  brought  out  to  view,  that  bap- 
tism in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  was  ordained  by 
him,  for  bringing  the  actual  believer  in  him,  penitent 
for  his  sins,  into  this  new  relation,  and  for  giving  him 
the  knowledge  of  pardon  by  the  promises  of  the  new 
covenant.  This  had  been  ably  set  forth  from  the 
commission,  from  Acts  ii:  38,  and  many  other  New 
Testament  authorities. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  69 

Yet  who  in  those  days,  having  discovered  this  es- 
tablished scriptural  connection,  had  ventured  to  apply 
this  truth  to  the  relief  of  mourning  sinners? 

Theory  before  practice  :  yet  practice  is  often  tardy 
and  tremulous.  It  is  well ;  let  it  be  cautious,  and 
walk  only  on  solid  rocks,  like  the  priests  who  stood  on 
rocks  in  the  midst  of  Jordan,  while  Israel  all  passed 
by  into  the  promised  land.  A  new  light  was  dawn- 
ing, and  a  farther  glimpse  into  the  light  of  the  gos- 
pel was  obtained  at  this  meeting  in  Braceville. 

After  the  services  of  the  day  were  over,  Scott, 
Bentley,  Osborne,  and  Atwater  walked  out  together. 
Conversation  turned  on  this  subject.  Bentley  had 
preached  on  it.  He  urged  that  it  was  intended  to 
bring  penitent  sinners  to  the  immediate  relief  they 
sought,  by  bringing  them  into  the  new  covenant, 
whose  immediate  and  distinguishing  blessing  was 
the  actual  pardon  of  all  past  sins.  Osborne,  turning 
to  Scott,  asked  him  "  if  he  had  ever  thought  that  bap- 
tism in  the  name  of  the  Lord  was  for  the  remission 
of  sins?"  Holding  himself  somewhat  in  reserve,  he 
intimated  a  desire  for  Osborne  to  proceed.  "  It  is," 
said  he,  "  certainly  established  for  that  purpose.  It 
holds  the  same  place  under  the  gospel  in  relation  to 
pardon,  that  the  positive  institution  of  the  altar  held 
to  forgiveness  under  the  law  of  Moses  ;  under  that 
dispensation  the  sinner  offered  the  prescribed  victim 
on  the  altar  and  was  acquitted,  pardoned  through  the 
merits  of  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  of  which  his  offer- 
ing was  a  type.  So  under  the  gospel  age,  the  sinner 
comes  to  the  death  of  Christ,  the  meritorious  ground 
of  his  salvation,  through  baptism,  which  is  a  symbol 
of  the   death,   burial,  and  resurrection    of  Jesus 


70 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Christ."  "  Very  well,"  replied  Scott,  whose  thoughts 
were  very  deeply  engaged  revolving  the  whole  sub- 
ject, "  it  is  evidently  so." 

After  a  little,  Mr.  Osborne  remarked  to  Elder 
Bentley,  "you  have  christened  baptism  to-day." 
"How  so?"  "You  termed  it  a  remitting  ordi- 
nance." *  Bentley  replied,  "  I  do  not  see  how  we  are 
to  avoid  the  conclusion  with  the  Bible  in  our  hands." 

The  second  chapter  of  Acts  of  Apostles,  it  will  be 
seen,  was  under  constant  and  close  scrutiny  of  inves- 
tigation. It  contains  evidence  of  the  coronation  in 
heaven  of  the  King  of  kings,  with  his  royal  proclama- 
tion of  mercy,  and  terms  of  pardon  to  his  rebellious 
subjects. 

These  three  preachers  were  again  together  soon 
after  the  events  narrated  above,  when  Bro.  Osborne 
again  introduced  the  design  of  baptism  in  public  dis- 
course, and  remarked  in  the  connection  that  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  after  conversion  and  baptism, 
and  consequent  upon  them,  citing  the  inspired  words 
of  the  apostle  Peter  in  Acts  ii :  38,  as  proof:  "  Re- 
pent, and  be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye  shall 
receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit." 

After  the  meeting,  Scott  said  to  Osborne,  "  You 
are  the  boldest  man  I  ever  saw !  Do  n't  you  think 
so,  Bro.  Bentley  ?  "  "  How  so  ?  "  said  Bentley.  "Why 
he  said  in  his  sermon  that  no  one  had  a  right  to  ex- 
pect the  Holy  Spirit  till  after  baptism."  Scott  was 
a  genius  ;  often  eccentric,  often  profoundly  medita- 
tive.   It  may  not  be  necessary,  as  perhaps  it  would 

*  Words  were  sometimes  used  in  those  days  with  less  accuracy 
than  in  later  times. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


71 


be  impossible  to  tell,  whether  Mr.  Scott  was  leading 
them,  or  they  him,  in  those  views.  It  is  certain, 
however,  that  he  had  now  premises  sufficient  for  a 
generalization,  which  was  soon  to  produce  the  most 
brilliant  and  unexpected  results.  In  'the  powers  of 
analysis  and  combination,  he  has  rarely  been 
equaled.  Under  his  classification,  the  great  elements 
of  the  gospel  bearing  on  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
assumed  the  following  definite,  rational,  and  scriptu- 
ral order:  (1)  Faith;  (2)  Repentance;  (3)  Baptism; 
(4)  Remission  of  sins ;,  (5)  The  Holy  Spirit ;  (6) 
Eternal  life,  through  a  patient  continuance  in  well 
doing. 

This  arrangement  of  these  themes  was  so  plain,  so 
manifestly  in  harmony  with  soundest  reason,  and  so 
clearly  correct  in  a  metaphysical  point  of  view,  as  well 
as  sustained  by  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that  Scott  was 
transported  with  the  discovery.  The  key  of  knowl- 
edge was  now  in  his  possession.  The  points  which 
before  were  dark  or  mysterious,  were  now  luminous. 
It  cleared  away  the  mist,  and  let  in  the  day  just 
where  all  had  struggled  for  ages,  and  many  had 
stranded.  The  whole  Scripture  sorted  itself  into  a 
plain  and  intelligible  system  in  illustration  and  proof 
of  this  elementary  order  of  the  gospel.  The  darkened 
cloud  withdrew.  A  new  era  for  the  gospel  had 
dawned. 

So  reasoned  Scott.  Moreover  this  discovery  was 
most  opportune  as  a  preparation  for  his  mission  to 
which  the  association  had  called  him,  of  preaching 
the  gospel  within  its  bounds. 


72 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  plea  opened  in  New  Lisbon — Co-operating  agencies. 


VENTS  were  rapidly  culminating  for  the  work  of 


J—'  conversion  to  open  under  new  and  peculiar  con- 
ditions of  success.^  The  preachers  were  astir  holding 
meetings  in  many  places  ;  not  "  protracted  meetings," 
for  the  day  for  such  meetings  had  not  yet  come.  Many 
incidents  of  rare  interest  are  connected  with  the  stir- 
ring reformatory  movement  of  the  years  from  1826 
to  1832  ;  but  none,  perhaps,  more  noteworthy  than 
the  opening  of  the  great  work  in  New  Lisbon,  in 
November,  1827.  Bro.  Scott  felt  that  the  evangeli- 
cal part  of  the  great  commission  had  fallen  into  decay, 
and  his  soul  was  burdened  with  a  great  weight  of 
duty  to  revive  the  apostolic  method  of  preaching  the 
gospel.  After  the  discovery  of  the  system  of  the 
gospel  items  already  mentioned,  he  went  to  a  commu- 
nity where  he  endeavored  to  impress  the  people  with 
its  truth  ;  but  he  failed  to  enlist  any  souls  for  Christ. 
He  felt  the  discouragement,  and  went  on  his  knees  to 
Jesus.  He  plead  as  did  the  lawgiver  of  Israel  for  his 
people.  He  was  most  earnest  in  prayer.  He  be- 
lieved God.  He  believed  his  word  ;  his  promise  of 
help.  No  man  more  sincerely,  humbly,  pleadingly, 
ever  lay  prostrate  before  God  in  supplications.  His 
prayers  in  public,  from  a  tender  heart,  melted  all 
hearts  around  him. 

The  effort  must  be  repeated.    It  is  the  gospel — so 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


73 


his  meditation  ran — Christ's  own  gospel,  blessed  by 
him  at  first  for  conversion,  and  to  be  blessed  by  him 
for  that  purpose  to  the  end  of  time.  "  Lo !  I  am 
with  you,  world  without  end."  Then  he  will  be  with 
his  servants  still.  "  This  is  thy  word  ;  I  am  thy  serv- 
ant." So  "  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed,"  he  cried  ; 
and,  again,  with  the  prophet,  "  I  believed,  therefore 
have  I  spoken.  I  am  greatly  afflicted.  I  believe  his 
word,  and  I  will  preach  it  again  !  " 

It  seemed  a  blessed  providence  which  permitted  the 
first  trial  to  be  a  defeat.  God  had  him  under  farther 
discipline  for  a  higher  work.  If  he  threw  him  on  his 
back  in  discomfiture,  it  was  that  he  might  fall  on  his 
face  in  conscious  need  of  Christ's  own  help  for  Christ's 
own  work  ;  that  his  gospel  might  be  re-announced  to 
the  world  in  self-abasement,  in  weakness,  and  with  the 
consciousness  of  the  Lord's  presence  to  aid  in  his 
work.  He  had  been  in  ecstasy  with  the  novelty  and 
grandeur  of  the  newly  discovered  truth,  and  with  the 
thought  of  bringing  sinners  once  more,  and  at  once, 
through  faith  and  obedience  into  the  joys  of  salva- 
tion ;  with  no  less  of  joy  in  the  gospel  as  it  now 
flamed  upon  his  heart,  but  perhaps  tempered  with  fear 
and  trembling,  a  state  of  feeling  he  often  experienced, 
he  resolved  to  go  to  New  Lisbon. 

The  old  Baptist  meeting-house,  in  which  two 
months  before  he  received  the  appointment  of  the  as- 
sociation, was  honored  as  the  place  for  the  opening 
of  this  grand  appeal ;  a  plea  which  was  to  shake  so- 
ciety throughout  the  land.  Scott  was  in  his  highest 
key.  He  realized  the  peril  of  the  experiment,  should 
it,  on  the  one  hand,  not  meet  with  an  encouraging  re- 
sponse ;  and  on  the  other,  the  results  to  follow  if  he 
7 


74  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


should  be  sustained  in  this  bold  advance  step  ;  but 
hisx faith  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  had  examined 
the  firmness  of  the  ground,  on  which,  in  his  new  work 
he  was  to  take  his  stand.  He  opened  the  plea  with 
circumspection.  He  fortified  his  positions  with  clear 
and  unanswerable  arguments  from  the  Word  of  God. 
As  he  advanced  he  became  more  inspired,  forcible, 
and  convincing.  His  audience  were  entranced.  He 
moved  on  in  eloquent  demonstration.  He  was  hand- 
ling old  themes,  but  he  was  bringing  out  a  new  and 
startling  proposition — old  as  the  apostles,  but  new  in 
this  age — that  at  any  hour  when  a  sinner  yields  and 
obeys  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  same  hour  will  the  Lord 
receive  him  into  favor  and  forgive  his  sins  ;  that  par- 
don is  offered  in  the  gospel  on  the  terms  of  faith  and 
obedience,  and  whoever  believes  on  him  with  all  his 
heart  and  obeys  him,  shall  be  pardoned  through  his 
blood ;  and  that  the  promise  of  the  gospel  is  his  evi- 
dence and  assurance  of  this  salvation.  A  new  era 
dawned  when  this  was  urged  upon  the  people,  as  it 
was  by  the  preacher  on  that  occasion,  for  their  imme- 
diate acceptance. 

When  the  preacher  was  drawing  toward  a  conclu- 
sion of  this  scriptural  exposition  of  the  apostolic  plan 
of  salvation,  he  noticed  a  stranger  enter  the  door. 
This  man  was  a  highly  respectable  citizen,  and  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was 
a  diligent  and  pious  student  of  the  gospel ;  and  had 
long  been  convinced  that  the  Savior's  command  to 
convert  the  world  was  not  now  obeyed  as  it  was 
preached  by  the  apostles.  He  spoke  frequently  to 
his  wife  on  the  subject,  and  was  so  engaged  that  he 
sometimes  read  and  conversed  to  a  late  hour  at  night. 


IN   THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


75 


She  said  on  one  of  these  occasions,  "  William,  you 
will  never  find  any  one  that  will  agree  with  you  on 
'that  subject."  He  replied,  '^When  I  find  any  person 
preaching,  as  did  the  apostle  Peter  in  the  second 
chapter  of  Acts,  I  shall  offer  myself  for  obedience  and 
go  with  him."  This  man  was  "waiting  for  the  con- 
solation of  Israel." 

Having  prepared  the  way  by  showing  from  the 
Scriptures  that  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  was  to  be 
opened  on  Pentecost,  and  from  Matt,  xvi :  18,  that 
the  apostle  Peter  had  the  keys  to  open  the  door  of  it, 
or  to  proclaim  the  terms  of  admission  into  it,  Scott 
was  bringing  his  subject  to  a  conclusion.  Mr.  Amend, 
having  entered  from  the  Presbyterian  prayer-meet- 
ing, heard  enough  to  see  his  drift,  and  to  appreciate 
him  when  he  repeated  the  language  of  inspira- 
tion, "  Repent,  and  be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  for  remission  of  sins,  and 
you  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit."  Acts 
M  :  38,  39-  He  was  standing  on  his  feet  listening  with 
fixed  attention.  The  preacher,  all  alive  to  his  sub- 
ject, called  out  for  any  of  his  audience  who  believed 
God  and  would  take  him  at  his  word,  to  come  forward 
and  confess  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  be  baptized  in  his 
name  for  the  remission  of  sins. 

"  The  time  has  come  at  last,"  said  Amend  ;  "  God 
has  accepted  my  condition  ;  he  has  sent  a  man  to 
preach  as  the  New  Testament  reads  ;  shall  I  fail  to 
fulfill  my  pledge  of  obedience  ? "  All  this  passed 
through  his  mind  with  instantaneous  rapidity.  "  My 
pledge  is  on  high  ;  my  prayer  is  answered  ;  I  will  not 
confer  with  flesh  and  blood."  With  a  promptness 
which  astonished  both  the  audience  and  the  preach- 


76 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


er,  he  came  to  the  seat  assigned  to  converts.  "Who 
is  this  man  ? "  whispered  the  astonished  preacher, 
who  had  seen  him  enter  and  had  scanned  his  move- 
ment. "  The  best  man  in  the  community  ;  an  orderly 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church." 

It  was  enough.  Success  sanctioned  the  appeal. 
Mr.  Scott  looked  upon  it  as  a  divine  attestation  of  the 
correctness  of  his  method  ;  the  Scriptures  being  his 
warrant  for  the  truth  of  the  things  proclaimed.  Here 
is  a  case  in  proof  that  the  Word  of  God  can  be  un- 
derstood alike  by  all  who  study  it  with  unbiased  mind. 
This  devout  Presbyterian  loved  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus.  The  doctrine  of  party  is  nothing  to  such  men. 
The  testimony  of  the  apostles  will  have  the  same  ef- 
fect on  all  candid  men  when  the  doctrines  and  com- 
mandments of  men  are  laid  aside.  From  that  day,  with 
this  seal  to  his  ministry,  he  was  stronger  than  Ajax. 
To  borrow  one  of  his  own  expressions,  "  he  rushed  in 
upon  the  people  like  an  armed  man  !"  Within  a  few 
days  seventeen  souls  "  hearing,  believed  and  were 
baptized."  There  was  great  joy  in  New  Lisbon. 
The  whole  town  was  aroused  ;  some  spoke  against 
this  way,  others  were  amazed  at  the  new  things 
brought  to  their  ears.  The  novelty  and  boldness  of 
the  movement  broke  up  entirely  the  monotony  of  the 
customary  process  of  "  waiting,"  "  seeking,"  tarrying 
at  the  pool  till  an  angel  of  grace  should  trouble  the 
waters  of  salvation. 

The  contrast  between  the  process  of  conversion,  as 
generally  taught,  which  led  the  soul  through  "  much 
tribulation"  of  darkness  and  uncertainty,  to  a  faint 
and  nickering  hope — and  this  the  apostolic  method — 
was  so  direct  and  palpable,  that  the  conflict  was  im- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


77 


mediately  initiated  and  strongly  marked.  The  one 
led  the  sinner  up  through  states  of  mind  and  frames 
of  feeling,  and  upon  the  genuineness  of  these  was 
based  his  hope  of  peace.  The  other  brings  him,  with 
the  same  conscious  conviction  of  his  sins,  to  trust  the 
mercy  of  Jesus,  and  to  rely  on  Christ's  promise  of 
forgiveness,  which  he  approaches  and  secures  through 
the  obedience  of  faith. 

It  was  singular,  and  indeed  inexplicable  to  Mr. 
Scott,  that  the  first  person  to  respond  to  his  call,  and 
come  forth  to  obey  the  gospel,  should  be  a  man  who 
had  not  heard  his  sermon.  If  he  had  heard  his  premi- 
ses, and  had  been  enlightened  by  his  argument,  the 
case  would  have  presented  no  cause  of  marvel.  He 
had  heard  only  his  conclusion.  He  came.  It  was  a 
mystery. 

Mr.  Scott  was  restless  under  it.  Several  years 
afterward  he  addressed  to  Mr.  Amend  a  note  of  in- 
quiry in  regard  to  it,  and  received  in  reply  the  follow- 
ing explanation  : 

"  I  will  answer  your  questions.  I  was  baptized  on  the 
18th  of  Nov.,  1827,  and  will  relate  to  you  a  circumstance 
which  occurred  a  few  days  before  that  date.  I  had  read 
the  second  chapter  of  Acts,  when  I  expressed  myself  to  my 
wife  as  follows:  Oh,  this  is  the  gospel ;  this  is  the  thing 
we  wish,  the  remission  of  our  sins  !  Oh,  that  I  could  hear 
the  gospel  in  those  same  words  as  Peter  preached  it !  I 
hope  I  shall  some  day  hear,  and  the  first  man  I  meet  who 
will  preach  the  gospel  thus,  with  him  will  I  go.  So,  my 
brother,  on  the  day  you  saw  me  come  into  the  meeting- 
house, my  heart  was  open  to  receive  the  word  of  God,  and 
when  you  cried,  1  The  Scripture  shall  no  longer  be  a  sealed 
book,  God  means  what  he  says.  Is  there  any  man  pres- 
ent who  will  take  God  at  his  word  and  be  baptized  for 


78  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  remission  of  sins,' — at  that  moment  my  feelings  were 
such,  that  I  could  have  cried  out,  'Glory  to  God  !  I  have 
found  the  man  whom  I  have  long  sought  for.'  So  I  en- 
tered the  kingdom,  when  I  readily  laid  hold  of  the  hope 
set  before  me.  William  Amend." 

It  is  no  easy  task,  now  that  the  position  then  as- 
sumed by  Mr.  Scott  has  won  the  victory,  and  become 
a  distinguishing  practice  of  many  hundred  thousand 
Christians,  to  appreciate  the  nature  or  the  magnitude 
of  the  difficulties  which  environed  him.  When  we 
consider  his  natural  timidity  ;  that  he  was  not  em- 
boldened by  the  presence,  or  encouraged  by  the  ex- 
ample, of  any  one  in  modern  times  ;  that  the  whole 
land,  and,  indeed,  the  whole  world  had  been  for  ages 
silent  as  the  grave  respecting  this  peculiar  and 
special  plea,  the  surprise  grows  into  wonder  and 
amazement,  and  the  event  takes  on  the  most  evident 
tokens  of  the  hand  of  God  in  it. 

It  is  true  the  "Christian  Baptist,"  in  the  first  vol- 
ume, had  taught  the  scriptural  connection  between 
baptism  and  remission,  in  an  essay  by  the  elder 
Campbell ;  also  in  A.  Campbell's  Debate  with  Mr. 
McCalla  the  same  truth  was  distinctly  set  forth. 
But  it  remained  among  the  theories.  Sinners  still 
languished  in  despairing  doubt,  awaiting  some  light, 
emotion,  or  sensation  on  which  they  might  settle  as 
the  "  white  stone "  of  elective  grace,  specially  im- 
parted to  assure  them  they  were  of  the  elect  for 
whom  Christ  died.  Besides,  all  the  prominent  creeds 
of  Christendom  contain  the  doctrine  of  baptism  as  a 
pledge  of  remission,  as  an  item  of  dogmatic  belief. 
But  not  one  of  the  sects  built  upon  them  carries  out 
its  creed,  in  this  particular,  into  practical  result,  and 


IN   THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


79 


tells  the  awakened  sinner,  as  did  Peter  on  the  first 
Pentecost  after  the  ascension  :  "  Repent,  and  be  bap- 
tized every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
for  the  remission  of  sins." 

This  practical  use  and  application  of  the  gospel  to 
bring  convicted  sinners  into  the  immediate  enjoy- 
ment of  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  through  the  pardon- 
ing mercy  of  God  in  Christ,  constitutes  an  epoch  of 
grand  significance  in  the  return  of  the  disciples  from 
the  great  apostasy  back  to  Jerusalem,  to  its  gospel 
and  its  glory.  It  had  been  taught  and  accepted  as  a 
doctrine ;  now  it  became  an  advocacy.  It  was  a  truth 
acknowledged  in  theory ;  it  was  now  a  duty  demand- 
ing practice.  Now  restored  as  a  practical  truth,  it 
was  destined  to  become,  in  the  hands  of  the  proclaim- 
ed of  the  gospel,  the  means  of  revolutionizing  the 
practice  of  the  church  as  it  relates  to  the  reception 
of  converts  to  Christ,  by  restoring  to  the  ministry 
the  method  established  by  the  holy  apostles  under 
the  great  commission. 

"  The  Lord  gave  the  word,  great  was  the  company 
of  them  that  published  it."  This  re-announcement 
of  the  gospel  was  soon  noised  abroad.  There  were 
many  Simeons  and  Annas,  too,  as  well  as  Josephs, 
who  were  waiting  for  this  consolation  of  Israel. 
There  was,  besides  the  preachers  of  the  Mahoning 
Association,  a  class  of  preachers  of  ardent  zeal  and 
great  influence  with  the  people,  who  had  come  by  a 
different  path  to  the  point  in  the  process  of  conver- 
sion, at  which  the  newly  restored  manner  of  present- 
ing the  gospel  commended  itself  to  them  as  a  neces- 
sity, and  as  the  only  missing  link  in  the  chain  of  gos- 
pel agencies.    These  were  known  as  "  Christians," 


80  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

"Bible  Christians,"  or,  sometimes,  "New  Lights." 
This  last  appellation  they  steadily  repudiated.  James 
Hughes,  Lewis  Hamrick,  Lewis  Comer,  and  John 
Secrest,  all  from  Kentucky,  coadjutors  with  the  cel- 
ebrated and  godly  B.  W.  Stone,  came  through  Bel- 
mont and  Columbiana  counties,  converting  many, 
and  planting  churches  according  to  the  light  of  the 
gospel  so  far  as  they  had  attained  to  it.  They  re- 
pudiated all  creeds,  contended  for  the  Bible  alone, 
were  sticklers  for  the  name  "  Christian,"  and  being- 
full  of  zeal  and  gifted  in  exhortation,  they  gained 
many  converts.  They  pursued  the  method  known 
as  the  "  mourning-bench  system,"  completing  the 
process  of  conversion  and  reception  by  giving  to  the 
convert  publicly  the  "right  hand  of  fellowship,"  when 
he  was  regarded  as  a  member  of  the  church.  One 
of  these,  John  Secrest,  a  man  of  mark  in  person, 
with  glossy  dark  hair  and  black  eyes,  grave  in  man- 
ner, with  powerful  voice  and  persuasive  address,  came 
to  William  Mitchell's,  in  Belmont  County,  whose 
three  sons,  James  G.,  Nathan  J.,  and  David  G. 
Mitchell,  afterward  became  men  of  much  note  and 
great  usefulness  in  the  reformation.  These  were  all 
youths  at  the  visit  of  Secrest. 
In  conversation,  Secrest  said  : 

"Bro.  Mitchell,  I  have  just  been  at  Bethany,  Va.,  to 
see  Alexander  Campbell.  He  edits  a  monthly  called  the 
1  Christian  Baptist.'  He  is  a  man  of  great  talent,  a  scholar, 
and  he  has  got  forty  years  ahead  of  this  generation,  and 
whether  they  ever  catch  up  I  have  my  doubts.  He  has 
waged  war  with  the  clergy,  and  he  will  bring  them  all 
down  on  his  head,  the  Baptists  in  particular ;  and  if  he 
carries  the  thing  through  as  he  has  commenced,  he  will 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  8 1 

revolutionize  the  whole  Protestant  world,  for  his  founda- 
tion can  never  be  shaken.  He  has  with  him  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Scott,  to  whom  I  was  introduced.  He  asked  me 
these  questions :  '  Bro.  Secrest,  do  you  baptize  a  good 
many  persons?'  I  told  him  I  baptized  quite  a  number. 
'Then,'  said  he,  'into  what  do  you  baptize  them?'  This 
was  a  new  thought,  and  it  perplexed  me.  I  tell  you,  Bro. 
Mitchell,  the  apostles  baptized  persons  into  Christ ;  not 
into  the  Baptist  Church,  or  any  other,  but  into  Christ ; 
and  baptism  is  more  than  a  mere  outward  ordinance;  it 
has  a  greater  significance  than  most  people  are  aware  of. 
In  it  we  become  related  to  Christ." 

The  "  Christian  Baptist"  became  a  regular  guest  in 
that  family. 

Of  this  wing  of  the  reformation  came  such  men  as 
John  Whitacre,  of  Minerva ;  William  Schooley,  of 
Salem,  both  having  birthright  in  the  Quaker  frater- 
nity ;  John  Flick  also,  and  Joseph  Gaston,  with 
others  of  reputation  among  the  churches.  It  was 
John  Secrest  and  Joseph  Gaston  who  appeared,  and 
were  welcomed  among  the  Baptist  ministry  in  the 
New  Lisbon  Association. 

All  these  men,  upon  examination,  accepted  the 
order  of  the  gospel  as  presented  by  Scott,  adopted 
it,  and  spent  their  lives  in  its  defense.  Thus  was  af- 
forded another  case  illustrating  the  manner  in  which 
the  union  of  Christians  is  to  be  effected  ;  by  the 
knowledge,  belief,  and  practice  of  the  apostolic  teach- 
ing ;  not  by  orders  in  council,  not  by  conventional 
decrees,  nor  by  some  ethereal  liberalism  of  senti- 
ment without  basis  or  bounds. 

Scott  and  Joseph  Gaston  becarfTe  greatly  devoted 
to  each  other,  traveling  and  laboring  much  together. 


82 


EARLY   HISTORY   OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


They  were  as  David  and  Jonathan.  Gaston  was 
charmed  and  instructed  by  the  manly,  intellectual 
eloquence  of  Scott,  who,  in  turn,  equally  admired  and 
loved  the  piety,  simplicity,  and  pathos  of  Gaston. 
This  brother  hath  a  history — brief,  sad,  and  lovely. 
He  was  the  son  of  James  and  Mary  Gaston,  born  on 
Peter's  Creek,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  March  25, 
1 80 1.  When  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  his  mother, 
then  a  widow,  moved  to  Augusta,  Carroll  County, 
Ohio.  Attending  a  prayer  meeting,  and  showing 
some  levity  inconsistent  in  such  a  place,  a  Miss 
Walton,  a  member  of  the  family  where  the  meeting 
was  held,  fell  upon  her  knees,  and  so  earnestly  com- 
mended his  soul  to  Jesus,  as  to  plant  impressions 
there  never  to  be  effaced.  Soon  after,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  Minerva  by  John  Secrest,  he  confessed  the 
Lord  and  was  baptized.  In  the  exercises  of  prayer 
and  of  exhortation,  public  and  private,  his  heart  and 
mouth  were  immediately  opened.  Many  felt  the 
power  of  religion  under  his  earnest  and  impassioned 
appeals.  Falling  in  with  Bro.  Scott,  and  learning- 
more  perfectly  of  "this  way,"  he  was  carried  up  to 
new  heights  of  wonder  at  the  perfection  of  the 
knowledge  of  God,  and  of  enthusiasm  in  pleading 
for  sinners  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  The  oil  of  Jo- 
seph's lamp  burned  brightly,  but  it  was  destined  soon 
to  burn  out.  He  was  afflicted  with  hemorrhage 
of  the  lungs.  The  violence  of  his  labors  brought 
on  a  crisis  ;  and  on  the  6th  of  December,  1834, 
closed  his  most  triumphant  course.  For  twenty 
minutes  immediately  before  his  death,  he  exhorted 
those  about  him  with  great  strength  of  voice,  and  al- 
most angelic  fervor;  then  he  fell  asleep  as  peacefully 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  83 

as  when  an  infant  is  hushed  to  its  gentle  slum- 
bers. 

He  was  led  to  clearer  views  of  the  gospel  in  the 
following  manner,  as  related  by  Bro.  Scott : 

I  had  appointed  a  certain  day  in  which  to  break  bread 
with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Salem.  Bro.  Gaston  was  a  res- 
ident of  Columbiana  County,  and  was  at  that  time  in  the 
vicinity  of  Salem.  The  Baptist  brethren  regarded  him  as 
a  good  man  and  a  true  disciple  ;  but  he  was  a  Christian 
or  New  Light,  and  contended  for  open  communion — things 
which  they  greatly  disliked.  Before  meeting,  the  princi- 
pal brethren  requested  me  to  converse  with  him  on  the 
subject,  saying  they  were  sure  I  could  convert  him. 

"  Accordingly  I  took  him  out  in  presence  of  them  all; 
but  he  gave  me  no  time,  being  as  impatient  and  undoubt- 
ing  on  open  communion  as  they  were  on  close  commun- 
ion. I  told  him,  however,  that  the  brethren  had  commis- 
sioned me  to  convert  him  to  their  opinions,  and  smiled. 
He  said  he  had  come  to  convert  me  to  his. 

"I  then  set  before  him  the  terms  of  the  ancient  gos- 
pel as  I  had  arranged  them,  and  told  him  that  their  dis- 
pute about  communion  was  silly  and  unprofitable.  He 
heard  me  with  delight.  I  appealed  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
he  smiled  ;  and  soon,  with  a  laugh,  he  exclaimed,  1  It  is 
all  true !  and  I  believe  every  word  of  it,  and  I  will  take 
you  to  a  Christian  brother  who  will  receive  it  in  a  moment.' 

1  'After  meeting,  I  accompanied  him  to  the  house  of 
said  brother,  living  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  village ; 
and  the  man  and  his  wife  hearing  it,  and  examining  the 
Scriptures,  received  it  with  all  readiness  that  same  night, 
so  that  on  that  day  were  brought  over  to  the  side  of  the 
gospel  two  excellent  men,  both  laborers  among  the  1  Chris- 
tians.'" 

The  11  Christian  brother"  alluded  to  above,  was  Wil- 
liam Schooley,  a  very  useful  and  exemplary  man.    He  was 


84  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


a  pioneer  of  great  independence  j  manly,  and  long  a  pil- 
lar in  the  cause  of  primitive  Christianity. 

He  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Va.,  August  5,  1792. 
In  1802,  when  Ohio  was  yet  a  territory,  he  settled,  with 
his  parents,  near  the  spot  where  the  town  of  Salem  now 
stands.  In  1839,  he  removed  to  Maysville,  Clay  County, 
111.  This,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  in  Fulton 
County,  111.,  was  his  continued  residence  till  his  death, 
which  occurred  Jan.  31,  1873,  m  tne  eighty-first  year  of 
his  age. 

He  was  educated  among  the  Friends,  or  Quakers,  and 
imbibed  their  doctrines.  But  maturing  in  mind,  as  in 
years,  and  seeing  Christendom  all  given  up  to  the  idolatry 
of  partisan  faiths,  he  became  skeptical.  Yet  his  reverence 
for  the  Bible  held  him  fast.  He  read  the  gospel.  In  it 
his  sincere  and  candid  heart  saw  beauty  and  truth.  "  I 
thought,"  he  says,  "  if  there  is  any  thing  in  religion,  it  is 
as  much  to  me  as  any  one  else. ' '  In  this  state  of  mind  he 
went  several  miles  to  hear  one  Robert  Hocking,  a  "  New 
Light"  or  Bible  Christian.  He  claimed  the  Bible  to  be 
sufficient,  opposed  creeds  as  foundations  of  religious  par- 
ties, and  assumed  the  term  Christian  as  the  distinctive 
name  of  the  followers  of  Christ.  This  gained  his  ready 
assent.  Soon  after,  Thomas  Whitacre  came,  and  held  a 
meeting  in  Schooley's  house.  Following  up  his  convic- 
tions, he  and  many  others  confessed  the  Lord,  and,  after 
the  manner  of  that  people,  were  received  into  church  re- 
lation by  the  "right  hand  of  fellowship." 

Population  was  sparse,  and  preachers  few.  Bro.  Schooley 
was  soon  called  forth  to  exhort  the  members,  and  to 
defend  the  "new  religion,"  as  these  simple  and  ele- 
mentary views  of  the  gospel  began  to  be  called.  The 
people  spoke  of  him  as  a  preacher ;  and  from  that  time, 
November,  T822,  till  he  was  past  eighty,  he  ceased  not  to 
labor  in  the  gospel.  He  was  ordained  March  16,  1823, 
by  Elders  John  Secrest  and  Thomas  Whitacre.    His  labors 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


85 


were  mostly  in  Columbiana  County,  though  he  preached 
in  one  or  two  counties  adjoining,  and  traveled  some  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  He  says:  "I  went  to  the 
warfare  at  my  own  expense.  I  do  not  reccollect  that  I 
received  more  than  one  dollar  for  my  labors,  as  it  was 
thought  among  the  brethren  that  it  was  wrong  to  pay  for 
preaching  the  gospel.  This  idea  came  from  the  Quakers. 
However,  it  was  very  convenient ;  it  cost  them  nothing. 
Yet  it  was  a  heavy  burden  to  those  that  preached.  I  have 
never  thought  it  right  to  sell  the  gospel,  or  to  make  it  a 
matter  of  merchandise ;  but  I  think  the  members  of  the 
church  ought  to  know  their  duty,  and  to  be  prudently  lib- 
eral towards  the  laborers  of  the  gospel."  So  writes  this 
good  and  sound  man  at  an  advanced  age. 

Schooley  was  a  large,  heavy  man,  remarkably  firm  and 
unyielding  in  his  conscientious  convictions.  He  was 
more  distinguished  for  sound  sense,  prudence  in  counsel, 
and  for  his  clear  teaching  of  the  gospel,  than  for  elo- 
quence or  power  of  appeal.  Hence  he  was  less  a  reviv- 
alist than  many;  but  he  yielded  a  far  more  steady  and 
permanent  support  to  the  churches.  He  was  a  leading 
man  in  the  community,  profoundly  respected  for  his  thor- 
ough honesty  and  benevolence. 

The  souls  of  Gaston  and  Scott  became  "  knit  to- 
gether in  love."  They  labored  together  with  great 
zeal  and  overwhelming  success ;  whole  churches  of 
the  "New  Lights"  and  of  the  Baptists,  in  Salem, 
New  Lisbon,  East  Fairfield,  Green,  New  Garden, 
Hanover,  and  Minerva,  unloading  the  ship  of  the 
cantraband  wares  of  human  tradition,  became  one 
people  in  the  Lord  and  in  his  word.  Conversions 
followed  their  labors  in  all  places. 

Bro.  Gaston  was  ordained  among  the  "  Bible 
Christians."  His  fervid  soul  knew  no  bounds  in  his 
efforts  to  save  sinners.    A  plaintive  strain  of  tender- 


86 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


ness  mingled  with  his  impassioned  persuasiveness. 
In  tears  he  begged  the  people  to  turn  from  sin 
and  come  to  Christ.  In  the  ardor  of  his  soul  he 
has  been  known  to  fall  upon  his  knees  that  he  might 
plead  more  effectively,  and  win  the  lost  soul  to  the 
Savior.  Once  when  Scott's  own  powers  of  exhorta- 
tion— a  gift  in  which  he  was  a  great  master — failed  to 
bring  the  people  to  repentance,  he  turned  suddenly 
around,  exclaiming,  "  Bro.  Joseph,  you  get  at  these 
people !" 

As  he  found  his  lungs  giving  away  he  exclaimed, 
"Oh!  if  I  had  only  understood  the  gospel  when  I 
made  my  start  in  religion  !  How  much  suffering  I 
might  have  escaped,  and  how  much  more  good  I  might 
have  done  !  But  now  I  must  go  down  to  an  untimely 
grave,  and  leave  this  good  and  glorious  work  of  pub- 
lishing the  gospel  to  others  !  "  After  some  six  years 
of  a  most  active,  laborious,  self-denying  and  very  suc- 
cessful ministry,  this  pure,  devoted  man  gathered  up 
his  feet  upon  his  couch  and  was  with  Jesus.  He  ex- 
pired, in  Steubenville,  at  the  residence  of  his  brother* 
in-law,  Mr.  Manful.  His  brother  James  leaned  over 
his  sainted  brother  in  his  departure.  His  breathing 
became  heavy,  his  eyes  closed,  and  while  all  waited 
the  last  pulse,  he  suddenly  revived,  and  addressed  to 
all  about  him  an  exhortation  of  wonderful  power.  It 
was  delivered  in  a  full  sonorous  voice,  accompanied 
by  the  free  use  of  his  hands.  Then  the  farewell  to 
his  wife  and  children  followed,  and  in  a  few  moments 
he  entered  the  chariot. 

It  was  noted  that  every  one  in  the  room  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  who  was  not  already  a  Christian,  turned 
to  the  Lord. 


IN*  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


37 


The  bright  jewel  of  the  "  Ancient  Gospel,"  as  the 
newly  discovered  arrangement  of  its  fundamental 
items  began  now  to  be  designated,  attracted  universal 
attention.  So  simple,  so  novel,  so  convincingly  clear, 
and  so  evidently  supported  by  the  reading  of  the  Acts, 
it  won  friends  and  wrought  victories  wherever  it  was 
proclaimed.  It  spread  rapidly  and  became  the  topic 
of  excited  investigation  from  New  Lisbon  to  the 
Lakes.  Mr.  Scott's  success  in  Columbiana  County 
had  so  completely  demonstrated  the  correctness  of 
his  method  of  the  direct  application  of  the  gospel  for 
the  salvation  of  sinners,  that  his  zeal  knew  no  bounds. 
He  was  a  rapid  rider.  Mantled  in  his  cloak,  with  a 
small  polyglot  Bible  in  the  minion  type,  which  he 
constantly  studied,  he  hurried  from  place  to  place  to 
tell  the  news  ;  to  preach  the  things  concerning  the 
kingdom  of  God  and  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Biography  of  John  Whitacre. 

In  Columbiana  and  adjoining  counties,  no  man  had 
greater  influence  than  John  Whitacre.  He  was  born  to  be 
a  leader.  Though  unambitious,  he  possessed  varied  abili- 
ties of  a  higher  order  which  naturally  gave  him  eminence. 
He  was  frequently  solicited  to  stand  the  poll  for  the  legis- 
lature, and  for  congress,  but  he  steadily  refused.  He  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  County  Surveyor  for  Stark  County 
by  a  handsome  majority,  when  the  voters  on  the  opposing 
ticket  counted  nine  hundred  of  a  majority. 

He  was  born  in  Loudon  County,  Va.,  February  14, 
1 790.  His  father  and  mother,  Edward  and  Martha  Whit- 
acre, were  strict  members  of  the  Friends'  Society ;  conse- 
quently, their  children  had  a  birthright  among  that  peo- 
ple. They  moved  into  Columbiana  County  when  the  In- 
dians, and  the  game  which  they  chased,  abounded  in  the 


88  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


forests.  Chances  for  education  were  scanty,  but  he  drank 
with  avidity  from  all  springs  of  knowledge,  taught  in  the 
schools,  became  master  of  the  art  of  surveying,  and  served 
as  the  surveyor  of  the  county  about  thirty-four  years.  In 
his  surveying  tours  he  often  preached  the  gospel  with  great 
effect.  He  joined  the  movement  which  originated  about 
the  beginning  of  this  century  under  the  labors  of  Stone, 
Hughes,  O'Kane,  and  others  ;  and  was  baptized  by  Robert 
Hawkins,  of  Pennsylvania.  When  the  advocates  of  the 
?iewer  light,  or,  rather,  the  older  light  of  the  original  gos- 
pel, came  to  him,  he  met  them  book  in  hand.  After  a 
careful  consideration  of  this  plea,  and  a  candid  examina- 
tion of  the  Scriptures,  he  said,  "It  is  true  ;  and  as  I  have 
set  out  to  follow  the  Bible,  I  can  not  reject  it."  He  never 
wavered,  but  held  on  till  the  day  of  his  death  preaching 
the  glad  tidings  wherever  an  opportunity  offered.  He  was 
very  zealous,  and  sought  in  every  way  to  teach  the  people. 
He  was  popular  as  a  preacher,  convincing  in  proof,  warm 
and  persuasive  in  exhortation,  and  brought  many  souls  to 
Christ.  He  abounded  in  anecdote,  was  ready  and  apt  in  fig- 
ures, pointed  and  witty  in  retort.  These  qualities,  with  a 
benevolent  disposition,  and  a  manly,  noble  form,  singled 
him  out  as  a  man  first  in  society,  and  first  before  great  as- 
semblies. He  was  not  only  hospitable,  but  "given  to 
hospitality. 1 '  His  business  talents — the  owner  and  success- 
ful conductor  of  the  mills  at  Minerva — enabled  him  to  gratify 
his  generous  and  social  dispositions,  by  entertaining,  with 
great  liberality,  the  many  guests  who  for  many  years  were 
welcome  in  his  family  mansion. 

Staying  over  night  at  a  hotel  where  were  other  guests, 
strangers  to  him,  in  the  evening  the  conversation  arose 
among  them  in  regard  to  Christianity.  A  young  man  who 
had  imbibed  skeptical  sentiments  spoke  up  pertly:  "I 
would  not  believe  those  old  Bible  stories  eighteen  hundred 
years  old,  nor  any  thing  for  which  I  had  not  the  evidence 
v>f  my  senses."    Whitacre,  who,  till  now  had  been  silent, 


IN  THE   WESTERN  RESERVE. 


89 


spoke  :  "  Young  man,  I  perceive  you  have  no  mind."  He 
replied,  with  warmth  :  "  Sir,  I  claim  to  have  as  much 
mind  as  you,  or  any  other  man."  "Let  me  ask  you  a 
question,"  said  Whitacre :  "Did  you  ever  see  your  mind, 
or  hear  it  ?  or  did  you  ever  feel,  taste,  or  smell  your  mind  ?  ' ' 
"No,  sir,"  said  the  youth.  "  Then,  according  to  your  own 
assertion,  you  have  no  mind  !  "  This  "  brought  the  house 
down,"  and  the  young  man  was  afterward  wiser  and  more 
modest.  On  another  occasion,  he  was  at  a  meeting  where 
several  persons  were  gathered  at  the  "  altar  "  in  prayer  for 
divine  power  to  come  down.  Among  them  was  a  lady  of 
intelligent  appearance,  who  evidently  was  in  deep  distress. 
She  prayed  that  God  would  "give  her  faith — saving  faith; 
that  he  would  help  her  to  believe  in  Jesus."  When  she 
closed,  Whitacre  spoke  to  her  :  "  Madam,"  said  he,  "  what 
would  you  give  for  faith  in  Mahomet?"  "Nothing," 
was  her  somewhat  indignant  reply.  "Why  not?"  he  con- 
tinued. "Because,"  she  rejoined,  "I  believe  him  to  be 
an  impostor."  "But  why  are  you  so  anxious  for  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ?  "  "  Because,"  said  she,  "  I  believe  he  is  my 
only  Savior."  "Well,"  said  Whitacre,  "  whyare  you  pray- 
ing for  that  which  you  say  you  have  ?  Why  not  go  for- 
ward and  obey  the  gospel,  and  be  made  free  from  sin  ?  "  On 
an  occasion,  while  out  surveying,  he  asked  a  young  lady 
in  the  family  if  she  was  a  Christian.  "No,  sir,  I  am  not." 
"  Would  you  like  to  be  ?  "  he  asked.  "Yes,  sir  ;  if  I  only 
knew  how,  I  would  gladly  become  one."  He  made  an  ap- 
pointment, and  'so  preached'  and  taught  the  people  that 
not  only  she,  but  many  others  turned  to  the  Lord ;  and  a 
church  was  founded  which  for  many  years  was  a  blessing 
to  the  people. 

He  was  taken  sick  while  surveying  the  farm  of  Ira  M. 
Allen,  near  Canton,  and  died  at  Mr.  Allen's  house.  The 
nervous  system  was  prostrated  ;  the  brain  power  gave  way  ; 
the  '  wheel  was  broken  at  the  fountain,  and  the  silver 
cord  was  loosed.' 
8 


90  EARLY  HISTORY   OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

He  belonged  to  a  generation  of  noble  men  who 
wrought  a  work  which  no  man  appreciated  in  their  day. 
For  unflinching  integrity,  and  a'  life-long  devotion  to  truth 
and  righteousness,  it  is  not  easy  to  overestimate  the  grand- 
eur and  excellence  of  his  life.  He  died  the  26th  day  of 
November,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 


IN   THE   WESTERN  RESERVE. 


91 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Origin  of  the  Church  in  Warren — Siege  of  Warren — The  Church  in 
Lordstown — Biography  of  Bentley — Biography  of  C.  Bosworth 
—East  Fairfield— Death  of  Mitchell. 

THE  Baptist  Church  in  Warren  was  formed  Sep- 
tember 3,  1803,  by  Elder  Chas.  B.  Smith.  It 
consisted  of  the  following  ten  persons :  Isaac  R. 
Dally,  Effie  Dally,  Jane  Dally,  Saml.  Burnett,  Nancy 
Burnett,  John  Leavitt,  Jr.,  Caleb  Jones,  Mary  Jones, 
Saml.  Fortner,  and  Henry  Fortner.  Isaac  R.  Dally 
was  the  deacon,  and  John  Leavitt,  Jr.,  clerk.  No  elder 
was  appointed,  as  the  Baptist  order  made  no  provis- 
ion for  "ruling  elders,"  the  preachers  only  being 
eligible  to  that  designation.  May  5,  1804,  they  were 
re-inforced  by  five  additions — Samuel  Quimby,  Sam- 
uel and  Sophia  Hayden,  residing  in  Youngstown, 
and  Wm.  and  Martha  Jackson. 

From  1806  to  1810,  Elder  T.  G.  Jones  preached 
occasionally  to  them.  May  19,  18 10,  A.  Bentley, 
then  a  licentiate  minister,  was  received  and  ordained 
the  same  day.  Some  of  the  members  residing  in 
Youngstown,  it  was  resolved  Jan.  5,  181 1,  to  meet 
alternately  in  that  town,  near  Parkhurst's  Mills,  and 
in  Warren.  February  8,  18 12,  Isaac  R.  Dally  and 
Saml.  Hayden,  after  being  "proved,"  were  ordained 
as  deacons. 

This  church  was  a  parent  of  churches — Youngs- 
town, Bazetta,  Lordstown,  and  Howland,  all  sprang 
from  it.    January  11,  181 5,  thirteen  members  were 


92 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


dismissed  on  application  to  organize  in  Youngstown, 
viz.  :  Saml.  and  Sophia  Hayden,  Benj.  and  Elizabeth 
Ross,  Wm.  and  Parthena  Dean,  Caleb  and  Mary 
Jones,  Isaac  R.  Allee,  Saml.  Burnett,  Lydia  Cook, 
Sarah  Morris,  and  Nancy  Jones  ;  which  church  was 
formed  Lord's  day  the  19th  of  April  following — 
Thos.  Rigdon,  J.  Woodworth,  ami  A.  Bentley,  offi- 
ciating. They  took  the  name  of  "  Zoar,"  (Gen.  xix  : 
20,  22,)  that  is,  "little ;  "  probably  in  allusion  to  the 
language  of  Lot :  "Oh,  let  me  escape  thither,  and 
my  soul  shall  live." 

This  Thomas  Rigdon  was  a  man  of  much  promi- 
nence as  a  preacher,  and  was  worthy  of  the  distinc- 
tion conferred  on  him.  He  served  with  accept- 
ability a  term  in  the  Ohio  Legislature.  There  were 
three  brothers,  Thomas,  John,  and  Charles,  all  Bap- 
tist ministers.  They  all  fully  adopted  the  views  of 
the  reformation,  and  faithfully  defended  them.  They 
were  cousins  of  the  famous  Sidney  Rigdon. 

December  4,  18 19,  the  church  granted  the  peti- 
tion of  eight  members  in  Bazetta  to  form  a  church  in 
that  town.  Benajah  and  Olive  Austin  were  accepted 
for  membership,  February  5,  1820,  and  baptized  the 
20th  of  the  same  month  by  Mr.  Bentley.  March  4th, 
following,  Sidney  Rigdon  was  received  into  member- 
ship, and  licensed  April  1st,  to  preach.  He  married 
Miss  Phebe  Brooks,  and  after  two  years  moved  to 
Pittsburgh. 

The  Baptist  people  of  those  times  were  a  humble, 
Bible-loving  brotherhood.  The  gospel  in  their  hands 
was  plead  with  much  simplicity  and  pious  zeal. 
Churches  were  increasing,  and  ministers  multiplying. 
Warren  was  the  leading  center  ;  as  it  was  also  for 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


93 


years  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  Western  Reserve. 
Here  in  1821,  and  again  in  1822,  were  held  the  min- 
isterial assemblies  of  which  Mr.  Campbell  thus 
speaks : 

"  Ministers'  meetings  once  a  year  in  different  parts  of 
that  section  of  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  making  dis- 
courses before  the  people,  and  then  for  criticising  them 
in  condone  clerum,  and  for  propounding  and  answering 
questions  on  the  sacred  Scriptures,  were  about  this  time 
instituted  and  conducted  with  great  harmony  and  much 
advantage.  I  became  a  regular  attendant,  and  found  in 
them  much  pleasure  and  profit."  "  These  meetings  were 
not  appreciated  too  highly,  as  the  sequel  developed,  inas- 
much as  they  disabused  the  minds  of  the  Baptist  ministry 
of  the  Mahoning  Association  of  much  prejudice,  and  pre- 
pared the  way  for  a  great  change  of  views  and  practice 
all  over  those  3,000,000  acres  of  the  nine*  counties  which 
constitute  the  Western  Reserve." 

Changes,  to  be  safe,  must  be  gradual.  The  light 
of  day  bursts  not  suddenly  on  the  earth,  and  the 
earth  itself,  with  all  things  upon  it,  came  into  being 
by  a  measured  progress.  Great  principles  are  slow 
in  operation.  Revolutions,  to  be  permanent,  must  ma- 
ture as  they  progress.  This  community  of  churches 
was  discussing  great  subjects  ;  and  as  rapidly  as  was 
safe  the  people  were  preparing  for  the  scenes 
which  I  proceed  now  to  relate. 

Late  in  the  autumn  of  1827,  as  Walter  Scott  was 
riding  down  Buffalo  Creek  from  Bethany  toward 
Wellsburg,  Va.,  he  met  John  Secrest  and  James  G. 
Mitchell,  on  their  way  to  visit  Mr.  Campbell.  They 
sat  on  their  horses  a  good  while  talking  over  the 


Eleven  counties  by  divisions  since 


made. 


94 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


state  and  prospects  of  the  cause  of  Christ.  Scott 
was  soon  on  his  favorite  theme — the  "ancient  gos- 
pel," as  he  called  it.  He  said  he  was  sick  at  heart 
hearing  people  talk  about  their  dreams  and  visions, 
but  not  one  syllable  about  their  obedience  to  Jesus 
Christ — not  a  word  about  what  blessing  the  ancient 
gospel  secured  to  those  who  submitted  themselves  to 
the  Messiah  of  God. 

Young  Mitchell  was  charmed  with  his  conversa- 
tion, and  the  brogue  of  his  native  Scotch  tongue. 
He  had  never  met  him  before.  Scott,  turning  to  Se- 
crest,  asked  if  this  young  man  had  any  gift  in  ex- 
hortation ?  He  replied  that  he  had,  and  that  if  he 
would  keep  humble  he  might  do  much  good.  "  God 
bless  him,"  said  Scott.  "  I  hope  he  will  ;  he  is  the 
man  I  want.  You  meet  me  at  Bro.  Jacob  Camp- 
bell's, in  New  Lisbon,  and  we  will  away  to  Warren 
and  besiege  the  town  ten  days  and  nights  :  I  will 
preach  and  you  will  exhort,  and  we  will  make  their 
ears  tingle  with  the  ancient  gospel." 

The  Mitchells  were  a  preaching  family.  They  were 
men  of  firmness,  promptitude,  untiring  zeal,  and 
abundant  in  labors.  The  three  brothers — James, 
Nathan,  and  David — were  sons  of  William  Mitchell, 
whose  ancestors  emigrated  from  England  with  Lord 
Baltimore,  and  settled  in  Maryland.  William  Mitch- 
ell removed  to  Washington  County,  Pa.,  where  James 
was  born,  December  5,  1805,  and  Nathan,  March  2, 
1808.  Near  Morristown,  Belmont  County,  O.,  in  18 13, 
where  Mr.  Mitchell  had  moved  with  his  family,  Joseph 
Hughes,  of  saintly  memory,  and  Lewis  Hamrick,  re- 
vivalists of  the  "  Christian  connection,"  found  them, 
and  led  them,  father  and  sons,  out  of  the  wilderness 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


95 


of  religious  doubt  and  conflict  into  the  way  of  the 
gospel  as  practiced  by  that  order  of  people.  Brought 
forward  in  "  exhortation,"  as  was  their  custom, 
James  and  Nathan,  and  eventually  David  also,  be- 
came prominent,  and  they  have  long  been  in  the 
front  rank  among  the  most  active  and  useful  preach- 
ers of  the  gospel. 

At  the  time  agreed  on,  Bro.  Mitchell  went  to  New 
Lisbon,  where  he  found  Bro.  Scott  waiting  for  him. 
They  arrived  at  Scott's  residence  in  Canfield  that 
evening,  and  next  morning  they  proceeded  to  War- 
ren, and  found  a  welcome  in  the  family  of  Bro.  Rich- 
ard Brooks. 

It  was  January,  1828.  The  town  lay  in  spiritual 
lethargy,  profoundly  ignorant  of  the  tempest  of 
spiritual  excitement  about  to  sweep  over  the  place. 
Bentley  had  preached  well  and  lived  well ;  but  he 
held  not  the  key  to  the  heart,  nor  was  he  skilled  to 
awaken  the  music  of  the  soul.  A  new  era  was  at 
hand  in  the  religious  history  of  Warren. 

Scott  came  unheralded.  His  first  appointment 
was  attended  by  few.  There  was  neither  expecta- 
tion nor  interest  sufficient  to  collect  an  audience.  A 
group  of  little  boys,  to  some  of  whom  he  had  spoken 
along  the  street  in  his  eccentric  way,  were  attracted 
by  curiosity  to  the  meeting  which  was  held  in  the 
court-house.  These,  with  a  few  old  people,  consti- 
tuted his  audience.  In  his  discourse,  after  address- 
ing the  old  with  little  apparent  effect,  he  turned  play- 
fully to  the  boys,  related  to  them  some  anecdotes, 
then  skillfully  changing  his  theme  and  tone,  he 
melted  them  with  sympathy  for  the  sufferings  of  Je- 
sus.   His  discourse  was  anecdote,  pathos,  wit,  elo- 


96  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

quence,  and  general  remark,  the  whole  intended  for 
future  rather  .than  present  effect.  He  announced 
another  appointment,  and  dismissed.  Mitchell  was 
disgusted. 

"We  had  not  gone  far,"  he  writes,  "before  I  asked 
him  if  that  was  the  way  he  was  going  to  pursue  in  besieg- 
ing the  town  of  Warren ! — and  if  that  was  his  ancient 
gospel!  If  so,  I  have  no  farther  business  in  Warren." 
'  Oh! '  he  said,  '  my  dear  brother,  there  was  no  one  there 
worth  preaching  to,  and  I  just  threw  that  out  for  a  bait. 
Hold  still,  we  shall  have  a  hearing  yet,  and  then  we  will 
pour  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel  red  hot  into  their 
ears  !  '  I  thought  possibly  he  was  strategic  in  his  method 
of  gaining  a  hearing,  and  concluded  to  wait  the  issue. 

"He  was  cheerful  and  social  all  the  afternoon,  anxious 
to  get  a  hearing.  Bro.  Brooks  kept  silent.  We  could 
learn  nothing  concerning  the  discourse  from  the  old  folks 
or  the  boys.    So  passed  this  first  day  of  the  siege. 

"At  the  appointed  time  we  started  to  the  meeting. 
The  Baptist  Church  was  secured,  doubtless  through  Bro. 
Bentley's  permission.  Passing  up,  we  found  it  crowded 
to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  a  number  on  the  outside.  Giv- 
ing me  an  elbow  touch,  '  Do  you  see  them  nibbling  at  the 
bait  ?  '  said  he.  '  Yes,'  I  told  him,  1 1  see  plenty  of  people 
present.'  We  pressed  our  way  through  the  dense  crowd 
to  the  pulpit.    We  sung  his  favorite  song — 

44  Come  and  taste  along  with  me 
Consolation  running  free 
From  my  Father's  wealthy  throne, 
Sweeter  than  the  honey-comb." 

I  opened  with  prayer.  After  it,  he  arose  and  read  the 
third  and  fourth  chapters  of  Matthew.  The  baptism  of 
Christ  and  the  temptation,  was  his  theme.    He  straightened 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


97 


himself  to  his  full  height,  his  great  chocolate  eyes  glisten- 
ing, his  whole  face  full  of  animation  and  earnestness. 
He  brought  his  siege  guns  into  position,  and  for  an  hour 
and  a  half  the  house  rang  with  his  eloquence.  I  shall  not 
attempt  to  give  an  outline,  for  no  man  could  do  justice  to 
that  sermon.  While  he  described  the  Son  of  God  hurling 
the  word  of  his  Father  and  his  God  on  the  great  adversary, 
and  lashing  his  hardened  soul  with  words  that  had  pro- 
ceeded out  of  the  mouth  of  God,  until  his  brazen  face 
shriveled,  and  his  countenance  most  brazen  fell,  and  he 
left,  cowed,  dismayed,  foiled  in  his  attempt,  and  the  won- 
derful hero  of  redemption  master  of  the  field,  victorious 
in  the  terrible  conflict,  while  heaven's  hosts  came  and 
ministered  to  him — he  was  powerful,  lofty,  and  sublime. 
I  had  never  heard  such  a  discourse,  so  touching,  so  telling, 
not  only  on  me,  for  the  whole  audience  was  moved. 

"The  siege  was  now  fairly  commenced.  Up  to  the 
next  Thursday  an  incessant  fire  was  kept  up  day  and  night. 
The  ancient  gospel  was  poured  into  their  ears.  They 
were  astonished,  amazed.  They  got  their  Bibles,  and 
went  to  reading  and  searching  for  the  truth.  No  word 
fell  on  the  floor,  or  hit  the  wall — all  was  eagerly  caught 
and  tried  by  the  book.  They  could  do  nothing  against 
it ;  it  was  the  simple  gospel  of  Christ  in  its  facts,  and 
commands,  and  promises. 

"After  the  discourse  on  the  temptation,  he  said  we  will 
sing  a  hymn,  and  see  who  will  be  on  the  Lord's  side. 
We  sang — 

"  Come  and  taste  along  with  me,"  etc. 

"Three  persons  came  forward.  He  asked  them  if  they 
believed  with  all  their  heart  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God.  1  These  persons,'  said  he,  'will  be  baptized 
to-morrow  after  sermon,  for  the  remission  of  their  sins.' 
We  baptized  every  day,  and  sometimes  the  same  hour  of 
the  night." 

9 


98  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

The  tide  of  interest  was  flowing  high.  Scott's 
next  discourse  was  on  Peter's  confession,  Matt,  xvi : 
"  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,"  a 
grand  theme,  favorite  with  him,  and  grandly  handled. 
Mitchell  came  after  with  a  spirited  and  powerful  ex- 
hortation to  the  people  to  come  and  take  their  stand 
on  this  durable  and  firm  foundation  which  God  has 
laid  as  the  only  hope  of  the  world. 

Baptism  followed  the  evening  meeting.  Mitchell 
says  to  Scott,  "  Do  not  let  the  people  know  where  we 
are  going,  and  we  will  slip  over  to  Bro.  Jacob  Harsh's 
and  get  a  good  night's  rest,  and  be  prepared  for  the 
labors  of  the  next  day" — for  every  night  the  places 
where  they  put  up  were  crowded  with  inquiring  and 
anxious  souls.  Mitchell  retired  and  left  Bro.  Scott 
drying  his  clothes.  It  was  but  a  few  minutes  before 
the  house  was  filled  with  awakened  people.  Scott 
said,  '*  If  you  follow  me  to  learn  the  ancient  gospel,  I 
will  pour  it  into  your  ears  as  long  as  I  can  wag  a 
word  off  the  end  of  my  tongue."  Mitchell  fell  asleep, 
leaving  Mr.  Scott  speaking  to  the  people.  A  number 
were  deeply  penitent.  Scott  awoke  Mitchell,  and 
told  him  to  come  and  deliver  one  of  his  pathetic  ex- 
hortations. "  I  would  be  in  a  fine  mood,  Bro.  Walter, 
to  exhort  the  people,  just  aroused  from  sleep  !  "  "  The 
iron  is  hot ;  one  stroke  when  hot  is  worth  a  dozen 
when  it  is  cold !"  Out  came  Mitchell,  singing  as  he 
came  an  old  hymn,  beginning  : 

"Begone,  unbelief!  my  Savior  is  near, 
And  for  my  relief  will  surely  appear." 

He  then  began  an  exhortation  based  on  the  word 
"  lost."  The  great  loss,  ah  !  the  greatest,  was  to  lose 
the  soul ;  to  be  lost  to  God  and  Christ ;  and  heaven 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


99 


and  angels  ;  and  the  pure  and  good  ;  lost  to  eternal 
life  and  all  bliss.  Mr.  John  Tait,  a  Presbyterian,  who 
had  been  strongly  opposed,  but  who  was  now  deeply 
moved,  cried  out,  "  Young  man,  for  mercy's  sake  pray 
for  me,  for  my  heart  is  as  hard  and  unfeeling  as  a 
stone."  "  Bless  God  !  "  said  Scott,  "  Tait  is  a  conver- 
ted man."  They  all  kneeled  down,  and  Bro.  Mitchell 
prayed  for  him.  He  wept  aloud  ;  so  did  Scott.  "  We 
are,"  said  he,  "  to  weep  with  them  that  weep,  and  re- 
joice with  them  that  rejoice."  Then,  addressing  Tait, 
Scott  said,  u  Are  you  willing  to  follow  your  faith  ?  Do 
you  believe  with  all  your  heart  in  Jesus  Christ  the 
Son  of  God  ?  "  Mr.  Scott,  I  do  ;  but  my  heart  is  so 
hard  ;  I  am  as  unfeeling  as  a  stone."  "  Ah !  but '  we 
walk  by  faith.'  1  This  is  the  victory  that  overcometh 
the  world,  even  our  faith.'  Let  your  feelings  gush  up 
from  your  faith  in  God's  Son,  effects  which  must  fol- 
low the  obedience  of  faith."  u  Mr.  Scott,  I  am  ready 
to  obey  my  faith."  "  Bless  God !  that  is  the  path  to 
travel." 

Once  more  they  started  for  the  Mahoning,  singing 
out  on  the  midnight  air  as  they  went, 

"  Come  and  taste  along  with  me, 
Consolation  running  free." 

Mr.  Tait  and  several  others  were  baptized  upon  the 
confession  of  their  faith  in  the  Savior  of  sinners  ; 
after  which,  Scott,  addressing  them,  said,  "  Follow  your 
faith." 

Next  morning,  the  crowd  still  large,  Scott  asked 
Bro.  Mitchell  to  proceed  in  the  discourse  ;  which  he 
did  from  the  words  of  Peter  concerning  the  "  lively 
hope."  He  was  only  well  begun,  when  Mr.  Tait 
cried  out,  "  I  give  glory  to  God !  my  soul  is  full  of 


100  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


love  to  God  and  man."  The  effect  was  wonderful. 
"  Go  on,"  said  Scott  to  the  preacher.  "It  is  no  use  ; 
the  feelings  of  the  people  are  too  high  above  any 
effort  I  can  make."  Scott  took  the  audience,  and  in 
a  very  forcible  manner  gave  an  opportunity  to  obey 
the  glorious  gospel  and  be  filled  with  the  fullness  of 
God.  A  number  came  penitently  to  confess  their 
Savior. 

The  next  meeting  closed  the  siege.  Two  such 
houses  would  not  have  held  the  people.  M  Too  many," 
said  Scott,  "for  the  effect  we  wish  to  produce."  The 
closing  discourse  was  a  recapitulation  of  the  princi- 
pal topics  discoursed  during  the  meeting.  So  ended 
the  siege  of  Warren,  with  over  fifty  conversions. 

Bro.  Mitchell  adds  in  conclusion : 

"  It  is  due  Bro.  Walter  Scott  to  give  him  credit  as  among 
the  first  on  the  continent  of  America,  if  not  the  very  first, 
who  took  the  old  field-notes  of  the  apostles  and  run  the 
original  survey,  beginning  at  Jerusalem.  The  first  man  I 
ever  heard  preach  baptism  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  with  its 
antecedents,  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  reduce  it  to 
practice.  And  from  this  period,  1827,  it  spread  like  fire 
on  a  prairie  all  over  the  country,  and  happy  thousands  have 
rejoiced  to  learn  how  to  become  disciples  of  Christ  ac- 
cording to  the  divine  arrangement  and  purpose  of  God." 

Scarce  a  vestige  remained  of  the  church  in  Warren 
to  oppose  the  establishment  of  the  ancient  order. 
Additions  continued  to  come  in  under  the  preaching 
of  Bentley,  Osborne,  and  Elder  Thomas  Campbell, 
who  arrived  soon  afterward  in  the  place.  The  fires 
of  a  new  religious  life  were  kindled  in  neighboring- 
communities.  On  the  6th  of  March,  1830,  the  breth- 
ren in  Howland  were  dismissed  to  form  a  church  in 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  10 1 

that  place.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  183 1,  Cyrus 
Bosworth  and  Benajah  Austin  were  chosen  bishops 
of  the  church,  and  Richard  S.  Brooks,  James  Gibson, 
and  Moses  Haskell,  deacons.  The  members  in 
Lordstown,  whose  names  were  chronicled  in  Warren, 
sent  a  petition  to  be  set  off,  to  unite  with  the  church 
in  that  town,  which  was  granted  October  21st,  1832. 

Bro.  Bentley  having  located  near  Chagrin  Falls, 
the  church  in  Warren  was  left  to  supply  itself 
with  another  pastor.  At  their  call,  Bro.  Jonas  Hart- 
zel  came ;  and  on  the  5th  of  April,  1835,  he  was  in- 
stalled as  preacher,  and  associate  elder  with  Bro.  C. 
Bosworth.  Subsequently,  the  church  has  had  J.  E. 
Gaston,  Isaac  Errett,  John  W.  Errett,  and  others, 
who,  with  a  judicious  and  experienced  eldership,  have 
maintained  to  this  day  the  cause  of  Christ  in  War- 
ren. 

Very  early  a  congregation  sprang  up  in  Lordstown. 
The  new  converts — fruits  of  Scott's  meeting  in  War- 
ren, with  the  members  already  there,  and  others  gath- 
ered by  Henry,  Marcus  Bosworth,  and  others — gave 
them  such  strength,  that  on  the  20th  of  March,  1830, 
forty-one  came  together  in  the  order  of  the  Scripture 
models.  Robert  Tait  and  Moses  Haskell  were  over- 
seers, and  John  Tait  and  David  Lewis,  deacons.  The 
church  grew  to  considerable  strength,  and  few  have 
had  a  more  stable  brotherhood.  They  have  partici- 
pated in  all  the  enterprises  by  which  the  cause  of 
primitive  Christianity  has  been  sustained.  The  pres- 
ent number  is  about  fifty.  They  have  a  good  house 
of  worship,  and  have  been  favored  recently  with  the 
diligent  and  prudent  labors,  as  pastor  and  elder,  of 
Philander  Green. 


102  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Biography  of  Adamson  Bentley. 

The  life  of  a  good  man  is  a  blessing  to  the  world.  As 
certain  waters  transmute  to  stone  the  perishable  wood  de- 
posited in  them,  so  communion  with  God  turns  all  the 
actions  of  a  man's  life  to  immortality.  Biography  has  its 
office — its  mission  among  men.  The  biographic  pen,  like 
the  pencil,  rightly  used,  works  out  immortal  things.  Its 
rightful  use  is  to  record,  in  durable  permanence,  a  useful 
life  which  floats  in  transient  recollections,  and  to  extend 
it  from  the  family  to  the  world. 

Adamson  Bentley  is  beloved  for  his  work's  sake,  ten- 
derly remembered  for  qualities  of  character  which  mark 
him  as  a  rare  and  noble  man.  He  was  born  July  4th, 
1785,  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.  While  he  was  yet  young 
his  father  moved  with  his  numerous  family  to  Brookfield, 
Trumbull  County,  Ohio ;  a  country  not  yet  rescued  from 
the  dominion  of  the  primitive  forest.  Here  young  Bent- 
ley experienced  the  privations  common  to  pioneer  life. 
He  struggled  through  encumbering  difficulties  till  he  ob- 
tained a  suitable  education  for  the  profession  in  life  in 
which  he  was  so  long  distinguished. 

He  made  public  confession  of  his  faith  in  Christ  when 
he  was  a  youth,  in  the  Baptist  order.  His  religious  guard- 
ians discovering  the  bent  and  capacity  of  the  young  Timo- 
thy, and  correctly  foreseeing  the  usefulness  to  which  he 
might  attain,  advised  him  to  prepare  for  the  ministry. 

He  began  to  preach  at  nineteen.  Holding  the  system 
of  Calvinism  to  be  the  unquestionable  scheme  of  saving 
grace,  he  taught  and  urged  its  doctrines  with  the  most  un- 
scrupulous fidelity.  The  clashing  between  the  offers  of 
mercy  to  all  men,  and  the  system  which  denied  this  sal- 
vation to  any  but  the  elect,  was  constantly  present  and 
constantly  felt.  In  the  honest  devotion  of  his  nature  he 
carried  the  system  in  his  head,  and  the  love  of  God  in  his 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  103 

heart.  And  as  the  heart,  in  this  behalf,  was  better  than 
the  head,  he  proclaimed  the  love  of  Christ  so  powerfully 
that  many  conversions  followed  his  ministry.  As  no  man, 
probably,  ever  believed  this  doctrine  more  sincerely,  so 
no  one  ever  rejoiced  more  fully  when  its  scales  fell  from 
his  eyes.  Take  the  following  testimony  from  his  own  lips, 
as  the  writer  heard  him,  in  his  own  solemn  style,  declare  his 
feelings  in  the  great  yearly  meeting  in  Hubbard,  1837: 

"  I  used  to  take  my  little  children  on  my  knee,  and 
look  upon  them  as  they  played  in  harmless  innocence 
about  me,  and  wonder  which  of  them  was  to  be  finally  and 
forever  lost !  It  can  not  be  that  God  has  been  so  good 
to  me  as  to  elect  all  my  children  !  No,  no  !  I  am  myself 
a  miracle  of  mercy,  and  it  can  not  be  that  God  has  been 
kinder  to  me  than  to  all  other  parents.  Some  of  these 
must  be  of  the  non-elect,  and  will  be  finally  banished  from 
God  and  all  good.  '  And  now,'  he  continued,  his  paren- 
tal heart  swelling  with  unutterable  emotions,  'if  I  only 
knew  which  of  my  children  were  to  dwell  in  everlasting 
burnings,  oh !  how  kind  and  tender  would  I  be  to  them, 
knowing  that  all  the  comfort  they  would  ever  experience 
would  be  here  in  this  world !  But  now  I  see  the  gos- 
pel admits  all  to  salvation.  Now  I  can  have  every  one 
for  eternal  happiness.  Now  I  can  pray  and  labor  for 
them  in  hope.'  " 

His  prayers  were  heard :  years  before  his  departure,  he 
enjoyed  that  greatest  bliss  of  a  pious  parent's  heart — he 
saw  all  his  children  walking  in  the  truth. 

He  preached  about  five  years  as  a  licentiate.  In  1810, 
he  settled  in  Warren,  and  on  the  19th  of  May,  that  year, 
he  was  ordained.  On  the  4th  of  May,  the  next  year,  at 
the  unanimous  call  of  the  church,  he  accepted  the  duties 
of  pastor.  For  a  long  time  he  was  popular  in  that  com- 
munity. The  bland  dignity  of  his  manners,  and  his  social 
courtesy,  won  him  many  friends.  Though  his  talents  as  a 
preacher  were  above  mediocrity,  and  he  was  heard  with 


104  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

delight  and  profit  by  numerous  auditors,  to  his  social 
qualities  and  moral  excellencies,  as  a  man  and  a  citizen, 
are  to  be  traced  the  sources  of  that  extensive  power  which 
he  possessed  among  the  people.  It  is  our  fortune  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  few  persons  in  a  life-time,  who  wield  a  per- 
sonal influence  so  supreme.  Tall,  manly,  graceful,  with  a 
countenance  radiant  with  good  nature,  affable  and  digni- 
fied, he  would  stand  among  dignitaries  as  his  equals,  and 
condescend  to  the  lowly  with  a  gentleness  which  won  the 
attachment  of  every  heart. 

In  all  that  constitutes  home  a  source  and  fountain  of 
hospitable  generosities,  his  amiable  companion  was  quite 
his  equal.  With  more  economy  and  equal  social  talent, 
she  managed  her  household  with  such  skill  that  the  en- 
tertained and  the  entertainers  seemed  equally  happy.  In 
those  earlier  days,  when  social  habits  were  not  yet  costumed 
into  rigid  rule,  many  a  traveler  urged  his  journey  an  hour 
later  and  a  few  miles  further  to  be  a  guest  at  his  broad 
hearth-fires.  None  knew  better  than  the  gratefully  re- 
membered mistress  of  that  hospitable  home,  how  to  "wel- 
come the  coming  and  speed  the  going  guest." 

As  may  well  be  supposed,  on  a  limited  salary,  the  in- 
creasing expenses  of  his  family  had  not  a  sufficient  foun- 
dation. He  therefore  for  a  time  resorted  to  merchandise, 
merely  as  subsidiary,  however,  for  he  never  neglected  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel. 

In  the  course  of  his  ministry  he  traveled  extensively. 
He  visited  Kentucky,  and  labored  a  considerable  time 
among  the  brethren  in  that  State,  and  made  many  friends. 
The  governor  of  that  State  received  him  into  his  mansion, 
and  showed  him  marked  attentions.  He  traveled  much 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  crossed  the  mountains  in  his  saddle 
many  times.  At  a  time  when  population  was  sparse,  and 
the  mountain  passes  were  infested  by  robbers,  he  climbed 
the  craggy  cliffs  of  those  mountain  barriers  to  tell  to  the 
East  the  progress  of  salvation  in  the  West,  and  to  bear 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  105 

back  to  the  West  a  share  of  the  harvests  the  brethren  were 
reaping  in  the  cities  of  the  East.  In  these  travels  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  renowned  Dr.  William  Stoughton. 
A  lasting  friendship  grew  up  between  the  two  ministers, 
which  Bentley  perpetuated  by  giving  to  his  oldest  son  the 
name  of  his  friend.  Dr.  Stoughton  was  the  author  of  an 
abridgment  of  Dr.  Gill's  "  Complete  Body  of  Divinity," 
a  work  which,  through  Mr.  Bentley's  influence,  found  many 
purchasers  in  the  West. 

About  the  years  1820  to  1825,  Mr.  Bentley  was  visiting 
the  Baptist  Church  which  met  near  Cleveland's  Mills  in 
the  corner  of  Youngstown.  The  memory  of  some  yet 
living  returns  with  speed  swifter  than  carrier-dove  to  those 
primitive  scenes  of  unsectarianized  simplicity.  The 
groves,  "God's  first  temples,"  were  spacious,  and  the 
umbrageous  forests,  cleared  underneath,  lent  solemnity 
and  impressiveness  to  the  scene.  I  have  seen  him  there 
with  a  wagon  for  his  rostrum,  and  seats  brought  from  the 
adjacent  mills  for  the  accommodation  of  the  crowd  which 
had  gathered  from  miles  around.  Some  leaned  at  the  base, 
or  sat  down  on  the  roots  of  the  trees,  whose  leafy  boughs 
interlacing,  wove  a  sheltering  protection  against  the  sun's 
descending  beams.  When  he  stood  up  to  read,  all  lis- 
tened \  when  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  pray,  all  arose ;  when 
he  announced,  in  devout  accent,  the  sweet  and  solemn 
hymn,  all  joined  to  swell  the  chorus  of  praise.  Those 
days  and  scenes  have  been  celebrated  in  poetic  lines  : 

"  I  well  remember,  and  I  love  to  stray 
Down  to  the  grove  where  Bentley  used  to  pray ; 
Where  pious  neighbors  thronged  the  place  around, 
And  stood,  or  leaned,  or  sat  upon  the  ground. 
I  well  remember  how  he  used  to  stand, 
And  hold  his  Bible  in  his  leftward  hand; 
And  use  his  right  to  point  out  what  it  meant, 
While  lofty  oaks  in  silence  waved  assent !  " 

When  the  great  religious  awakening  under  the  Camp- 


106  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

bells  began  to  make  a  stir,  though  cautious,  he  was  one 
of  the  first  to  accept  the  principles  of  a  scriptural  re- 
form by  them  so  ably  propounded.  This  appeal  to  prim- 
itive ground  created  much  conflict  among  all  the  religious 
bodies,  but  especially  among  the  Baptist  churches.  He 
made  acquaintance  with  those  eminent  men,  and  so  thor- 
oughly had  he  canvassed  the  claims  of  their  call  for  union 
on  Bible  ground,  that  when  the  bold  and  eloquent  Walter 
Scott  came  to  Warren,  Bentley  seconded  his  labors,  and 
warmly  co-operated  with  him  on  that  occasion.  There 
followed  a  great  ingathering  of  souls ;  and  the  whole 
church,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  adopted  the  platform 
of  union  contained  in  the  New  Testament.  He  continued 
to  preach  with  great  power  and  with  fresh  zeal,  now  that 
the  new  disclosures  of  the  knowledge  of  the  gospel  had 
been  made  known,  and  many  converts  came  to  Christ 
under  his  ministry.  In  1829,  at  the  Association  in  Sharon, 
he  was  chosen  along  with  Scott,  Hayden,  and  Bosworth, 
to  travel  within  its  bounds. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1831  he  removed  to  Chagrin 
Falls.  While  laboring  to  establish  himself  in  his  new 
home,  he  "  neglected  not  the  gift  that  was  in  him."  He 
preached  at  every  opportunity,  not  only  without  regard  to 
compensation,  but  rendering  such  help  as  his  circum- 
stances permitted  to  lay  the  foundations  of  the  cause  in 
that  new  community. 

It  will  not  be  possible  to  follow  minutely  the  active  and 
useful  life  of  Adamson  Bentley.  Such  a  history  would 
make  a  volume  of  considerable  dimensions.  His  interest 
in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the  union  of  all  the  Israel  of 
God  on  the  primitive  foundation,  never  flagged.  He  had 
great  assurance  of  hope  in  the  speedy  dawn  of  the  blessed 
day  for  the  original  union  of  the  people  of  God  to  be  per- 
fectly restored.  His  great  love  of  peace,  and  his  ardent, 
hopeful  temperament  led  him  to  indulge  bright  visions  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  IOJ 

the  speedy  triumph  of  the  pure,  primitive  gospel  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Age  drew  on  apace,  and  with  it  a  gradual  decrease  of 
his  ability  to  endure  field-service  under  the  King.  Yet  he 
never  desisted.  At  nearly  eighty,  decrepitude  forced  him 
to  retire.  The  going  down  of  his  day  was  gradual  and 
beautiful,  like  the  decline  of  the  sun,  leaving  in  full  play 
the  amiabilities  of  his  fine  social  nature.  Serenity  and 
cheerfulness  still  held  sway,  while  the  eye  grew  dim,  and 
the  natural  force  abated.  While  lingering  on  the  shore 
of  the  cold  stream,  he  beheld  the  1 'shining  ones,"  and 
longed  to  be  with  them.  "  I  rely  not  on  myself ;  my  full 
and  only  trust  is  in  the  Rock  which  was  cleft  for  me." 
Full  of  hope  and  full  of  days,  he  took  his  departure  for 
the  brighter  world,  November  2,  1864.  He  lacked  only 
eight  months  of  eighty  full  years.  For  sixty  years  he 
blew  the  trumpet,  and  led  Israel  in  the  glorious  combat. 

In  personal  appearance,  Mr.  Bentley  was  more  than  an 
average  man  in  dignity  and  comeliness.  He  was  tall, 
finely  proportioned,  graceful  in  manners,  and  endowed 
with  a  remarkably  open  and  engaging  countenance.  His 
noble  form  never  stooped,  till  near  the  close  of  life  he 
bowed  a  little,  like  a  sheaf  well  ripened  for  the  harvest. 

As  a  preacher,  like  all  men  who  leave  their  impression 
on  society,  he  was  like  no  one  else,  and  no  one  resembled 
him.  He  usually  began  slowly,  with  simple  and  plain 
statements  of  his  subject,  rambling  not  unfrequently,  till 
warming  in  his  theme,  he  broke  the  shackles  of  logic, 
and  swept  on  like  a  swelling  tide,  bearing  his  audience 
along  with  the  vehemence  of  his  pathos  and  commanding 
oratory.  On  such  occasions  his  voice  became  full,  sono- 
rous, and  powerful.  When  the  shower  was  passed,  the 
people  not  caring  to  analyze  the  sermon,  or  to  trace  their 
emotions  to  logical  sources,  were  delighted  and  edified, 
and  departed  with  marked  and  decided  respect  for  the 
preacher,  and  with  far  higher  reverence  for  the  adorable 


108  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Son  of  God,  whom  he  preached  and  whom  he  served: 
He  never  trifled  in  the  pulpit.  His  message  was  solemn., 
and  seriously  and  earnestly  did  he  deliver  it. 

A  life  so  equable  as  his,  so  uniform  in  its  flow,  has  left 
no  abruptness  or  sudden  dash ;  little  that  is  startling  to 
create  a  fund  of  cherished  anecdote.  The  few  that  are 
handed  down  bear  the  impress  of  his  character.  At 
one  time  infidelity,  and  even  atheism,  made  considerable 
headway  in  Warren.  On  a  Lord's  day  he  arose  in  a  full 
assembly,  and  after  surveying  the  audience  in  silence  for 
a  moment,  exclaimed  :  "  There  is  no  God  /  "  The  people 
looked  surprised,  while  wonder  and  doubt  glanced  around. 
A  moment  more,  and  he  repeated  it  with  stronger  empha- 
sis. Perceiving  the  hearers  to  be  thoroughly  aroused,  he 
looked  inquiringly  into  his  Bible  for  a  moment.  "  But," 
he  continued,  in  a  softened  tone,  "I  have  omitted  a  part 
of  the  sentence :  '  The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart  there 
is  no  God  !  '  "  The  discourse  which  followed  was  a  clear 
and  convincing  proof  of  the  existence  and  perfections  of 
the  Creator  of  all  things. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  trustees  of  Bethany  College, 
and  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  missionary  cause. 
The  following  notice  of  him  appeared  in  the  records  of 
the  missionary  society  for  the  State  of  Ohio,  for  the  year 
1865. 

"  Among  the  memorials  of  departed  worth,  a  large  space 
should  be  allotted  to  the  late,  most  worthy  and  patriarchal 
brother  Adamson  Bentley.  Since  our  last  meeting  this 
eminent  man  of  God  has  gone  to  his  rest  and  his  reward. 
His  departure,  in  happy  consonance  with  the  calm  and 
cheerful  dignity  of  his  noble  life,  was  gentle,  peaceful,  and 
blessed.  No  man  in  north-eastern  Ohio  possessed  the  weight 
of  influence  with  the  people  that  was  wielded  by  this  princely 
man.  He  came  to  the  side  of  Campbell  and  Scott  in 
that  early  day  when  such  an  endorsement  of  their  plea  and 
work  could  be  appreciated  only  by  those  who  witnessed 


IN  THE  WESTERN   RESERVE.  IO9 

the  apostolic  labors  and  struggles  which  marked  the  early- 
epoch  of  our  blessed  work. 

"Multitudes  love  to  linger  around  the  memory  of  this 
good  man.  All  respected,  most  loved  him.  Of  him,  as 
truly  as  of  any  other  man,  it  may  be  said : 

c  Take  him  all  in  all, 
We  ne'er  shall  look  upon  his  like  again.'  " 

Biography  of  Cyrus  Bosworth. 

Cyrus  Bosworth,  for  many  years  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Trumbull  County,  deserves  much  more  than  a  passing 
notice.  Few  men  in  north-eastern  Ohio  have  won  more 
cordial  or  more  durable  respect.  None  surpassed  him  in 
enlightened  views  of  public  enterprise,  in  energy  of  char- 
acter or  business  capacity.  He  was  twice  elected  to  the 
office  of  Sheriff  of  the  county ;  served  as  Colonel  of  a  mili- 
tary regiment,  and  filled  a  seat  with  credit  in  the  Ohio 
Legislature  -;  in  all  which  positions  he  secured  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people. 

He  was  born  in  Plymouth  County,  Massachusetts,  April 
12,  1 79 1.  He  early  acquired  a  good  English  education, 
especially  in  navigation,  surveying,  and  such  branches  as 
would  fit  him  for  the  seas.  Yielding  to  the  entreaty  of 
friends,  he  gave  up  his  inclination  for  a  maritime  life,  and 
in  1 8 1 1 ,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  came  to  ' '  New  Con- 
necticut." For  a  time  he  engaged  in  teaching,  but  the 
late  war  with  Great  Britain  breaking  out,  he  was  employed 
as  express  messenger  between  Warren  and  Pittsburgh,  and 
was  the  first  to  carry  the  news  of  Perry's  victory  to  the 
latter  place.  He  returned  to  New  England,  married  Miss 
Sina  Strowbridge,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  181 3  we  find 
him,  with  his  parents,  again  at  Warren.  He  resumed  his 
former  occupation,  but  soon  left  it  for  the  battle  of  life 
on  more  stirring  fields.  He  built  the  National  Hotel, 
erected  a  store,  and  became  a  merchant.    His  election  to 


IIO  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

the  legislature  was  in  1822.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
term,  he  accepted,  at  two  successive  polls,  the  office  of 
sheriff.  He  settled  on  a  large  farm  three  miles  south  of 
Warren,  where,  in  the  more  congenial  pursuits  of  agricul- 
ture, he  passed  the  maturer  years  of  his  active  life.  He 
lost  his  companion  after  a  number  of  years  of  happy 
wedded  life,  and  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  C.  Case,  sister  to  Leonard  Case,  Esq.,  late  of  Cleve- 
land— a  partner  who  survived  him  about  fourteen  years. 

He  was  religiously  trained  in  the  Baptist  order.  In 
June,  1829,  in  the  general  religious  interest  attending  the 
labors  of  Scott,  he  confessed  his  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  was  baptized  by  Bro.  Bentley.  He  never  went 
through  the  ceremony  of  a  formal  reception  into  the 
church,  insisting  that,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  when 
we  are  "  baptized  into  Christ,"  (Gal.  iii :  27,)  we  are  bap- 
tized into  "  one  body,"  which  is  the  church  of  Christ. 
(1  Cor.  xii :  13.)  He  was  soon  called  to  the  eldership  of 
the  congregation,  and  stood  in  that  position  many  years. 
Under  appointment  by  the  church,  he  spent  much  time 
for  several  years  preaching  the  gospel.  His  great  weight 
of  character  and  clear,  cogent  reasoning,  gave  a  powerful 
support  to  the  cause  in  its  comparative  infancy. 

Much  as  he  was  respected  in  public  life,  to  be  appre- 
ciated, one  must  see  him  at  home,  and  mingle  in  the  scenes 
of  the  generous  hospitality  which  for  many  years  welcomed 
the  coming  guests  to  his  open  doors.  With  equal  dignity 
and  grace,  he  received  and  provided  for  the  comfort  of 
everyone.  He,  too,  was  "  given  to  hospitality."  The 
social  repast,  well  seasoned  with  Attic  salt,  where  intelli- 
gence was  mingled  with  agreeable  entertainment,  made 
the  home  of  Bosworth  known  and  gratefully  remembered 
in  all  that  region. 

In  his  character  there  were  qualities  seldom  united.  A 
perfect  hater  of  shams,  no  one  was  more  lenient  to  the 
trivial  blunders  of  humble  merit.    He  could  expose  hy- 


IN   THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


I  I  I 


pocrisy  with  a  terrible  severity,  but  he  showed  to  the  err- 
ing and  needy  a  gentleness  and  tenderness  of  heart  as 
beautiful,  as  they  were  healing.  He  had  some  enemies  in 
a  popular  sense,  for  "  he  could  not  bear  them  which  were 
evil;  "  yet  in  asserting  the  cause  of  the  injured,  he  was 
prompt  and  decided.  He  declared  early  and  openly  for 
emancipation,  because  "  it  was  right."  These  elements  of 
character  marked  his  course  as  a  ruler  in  the  church. 
His- sternness  was  sometimes  the  more  apparent,  but  his 
sympathetic  consideration  of  human  weaknesses  was  never 
far  in  the  rear.  Some  feared  him,  all  respected  him,  the 
most  loved  him.  For  strength  of  character,  force  of 
will,  and  even  consistency  with  himself,  he  had  few  equals. 

His  health  failing,  he  journeyed  to  the  milder  climate 
of  Texas  and  Mexico.  The  American  Christian  Missionary 
Society  employed  him  to  look  after  the  weak  churches 
while  on  his  tour.  In  this  work  he  was  diligent,  and 
proved  a  blessing.  He  assisted  in  the  organization  of  some 
churches,  and  the  encouragement  of  many.  He  returned 
from  that  mission  in  the  fall  of  i860,  improved  in  health. 
In  January  following,  he  took  a  severe  cold,  from  which 
he  never  fully  recovered.  Yet  he  was  not  confined  to  his 
room  a  day.  On  the  4th  of  April  he  went  into  his  garden, 
and  feeling  ill,  he  turned  to  come  in,  and  fell  in  death 
before  any  one  could  come  to  him.    This  was  in  1861. 

East  Fairfield. 

A  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  East  Fairfield, 
Columbiana  County,  beginning  February  1st.  Bro. 
Mitchell  says : 

"  Leaving  Warren,  we  went  to  our  appointment  in 
Fairfield,  and  put  up  with  Bro.  John  Ferrall.  We  com- 
menced at  candle-lighting,  and  continued  ten  days,  preach- 
ing the  same  gospel  to  the  people  that  we  did  at  Warren. 
The  immediate  result  was  thirty-seven  additions,  all  new 
converts,  beside  instructing  many  of  the  old  Christian  ordei 


112  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


in  more  scriptural  views  of  the  gospel,  especially  in  regard 
to  the  design  of  baptism.  At  this  point  I  parted  with  Bro. 
Scott,  after  enjoying  his  company  twenty-five  days,  and 
learning  many  things  more  valuable  than  tens  of  thousands 
of  silver  and  gold  ;  sweeter  than  honey ;  more  delicious 
than  the  honey-comb.  Looking  back  over  forty-four 
years,  and  remembering  what  was  the  condition  of  things 
then,  and  the  present  state  of  affairs,  I  feel  satisfied  that 
the  omnipotence  of  truth  has  effected  it  all." 

On  the  Western  Reserve  some  of  the  churches 
originated  in  reforming  Baptist  communities.  In 
Columbiana  County  the  "  Christian "  element  pre- 
dominated. These  people  were  themselves  reform- 
ers, seeking,  in  the  measure  of  their  light,  to  return 
to  New  Testament  usages  ;  but  like  most  of  the  efforts 
to  return  from  spiritual  Babylon  to  Jerusalem,  they 
crystallized  around  a  few  items  which  they  capitalized 
into  undue  prominence.  The  great  matters  of  the 
ancient  gospel,  and  ancient  order  of  the  churches, 
were  veiled  in  obscurity.  Earnest  and  zealous,  their 
public  speakers  often  possessing  great  exhortatory 
power,  they  made  many  converts.  They  had  a  large 
congregation  at  Fairfield,  and  a  good  meeting-house. 
The  amiable  Joseph  Gaston  was  their  preacher. 
Through  him,  Bro.  Scott  obtained  a  favorable  intro- 
duction among  them.  These  visited  the  people  to- 
gether, and  talked  freely  on  the  principles  of  the  gos- 
pel. Scott  was  gifted  with  conversational  powers  of 
great  skill  and  scope,  and  being  full  of  his  subject,  he 
won  at  every  onset.  A  meeting  was  called  which 
was  attended  by  the  whole  church.  Scott  turned  his 
subject  to  his  master  key  of  Peter,  pentecost  and 
pardon.    The  theme  was  new,  and  in  his  hands  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


113 


scriptural  scheme  of  the  gospel  was  so  plain  and  con- 
vincing, scarcely  a  doubt  was  left  in  the  great  audience. 
At  the  close  of  his  sermon,  the  proposition  was  made 
to  take  the  sense  of  the  church  upon  the  overture 
now  submitted,  to  assume  the  position  of  a  gospel 
church,  in  accordance  with  the  scriptural  teaching 
they  had  just  heard.  There  was  almost  a  unanimous 
rising  up.  Only  five  or  six  refused.  It  was  a  strong 
church  of  strong  men. 

Not  long  after  this,  Elder  James  Hughes,  of  Ken- 
tucky, came  and  preached  among  them.  Learning 
the  clearer  way  of  the  gospel,  he  adopted  it,  saying 
he  always  thought  the  Scriptures  connected  more 
blessing  with  baptism  than  they  had  discovered.  He 
continued  to  thus  preach,  and  to  practice  as  long  as 
he  lived. 

According  to  the  order  of  the  "Christian"  breth- 
ren, the  preachers  were  the  elders.  They  had  dea- 
cons to  perform  the  duties  common  to  that  class  of 
officers.  Bringing  the  church  to  the  New  Testament 
models,  they  now  appointed  William  Cunningham 
and  John  Ferrall,  who  had  been  deacons,  to  the  office 
of  bishop,  or  overseer,  and  Dr.  Amasa  Fisher,  and 

 ,  deacons.    Joseph  Gaston  continued  to  be 

their  minister. 

About  this  time  a  colony  of  Methodists  came  into 
Fairfield,  from  Virginia.  They  had  their  preacher, 
Benjamin  Patterson,  and  were  prepared  to  attend  to 
the  matters  of  religion  in  their  own  way,  and  keep 
guarded  against  novelties  and  heresies.  It  was  not 
long  before  Bro.  Benjamin  Saunders  came,  and  pro- 
claimed the  gospel  so  clearly  and  powerfully,  he  cap- 
tured their  preacher,  and  left  his  flock  so  shaken,  that 
10 


114  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

they  became  an  easy  and  willing  prey.  Every  one, 
without  an  exception,  embraced  the  teachings  of  the 
apostolic  gospel,  and  came  into  the  church.  Patter- 
son was  baptized  by  Elder  John  Ferrall. 

The  subject  of  "  weekly  communion,"  was  some 
time  under  discussion.  It  was  new ;  and  many 
thought  it  too  great  an  innovation  on  established 
usages.  Some  argued  that  so  great  frequency  would 
detract  from  its  solemnity.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was 
steadily  and  convincingly  plead  that  as  the  holy  apos- 
tles, who  had  been  charged  by  the  Lord  Jesus  with 
establishing  the  customs  and  laws  of  his  kingdom, 
had  ordained  that  order  in  the  beginning,  it  was  bind- 
ing still,  and  that  it  could  not  degenerate  in  solemnity 
when  approached  with  the  true  and  proper  spirit.  It 
was  finally  arranged,  at  Bro.  Ferrall's  suggestion, 
that  the  subject  should  be  a  matter  of  forbearance ; 
those  who  regarded  it  a  duty  to  show  forth  the  Lord's 
death  every  Lord's  day,  to  be  permitted  to  do  so ; 
granting  the  unmolested  right  to  others  to  come  to 
the  table  of  the  Lord  at  longer  intervals,  as  they  had 
been  accustomed  to.  To  this  all  acceded  ;  and  all  was 
harmony.  Very  soon  all  the  members  were  a  unit  in 
this  practice.  Would  that  all  differences  in  religious 
matters  could  be  settled  as  amicably  and  permanently. 

The  church  of  East  Fairfield  has  a  noble  record, 
and  has  been  a  light  to  the  surrounding  country.  It 
has  been  generous  in  sustaining  the  "yearly  meet- 
ings," and  all  others,  for  the  proclamation  of  the 
Word  of  Life.  Our  men  of  name  have  all  preached 
among  them  from  time  time,  and  assisted  the  faith- 
ful brethren  in  Fairfield  to  maintain  the  "unity  of 
the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


115 


Bro.  J.  G.  Mitchell  spent  a  long  life  in  the  gospel. 
He  began  when  a  youth,  and  traveled  extensively  in 
most  of  the  north-western  States.  He  was  equally 
distinguished  for  zeal  and  success.  He  was  small  in 
stature,  quick  in  action  and  speech,  abundant  in  ap- 
propriate anecdotes,  and  never  addressed  an  inatten- 
tive audience.  With  a  kind  heart,  generous  and  high 
minded,  few  men  had  more  friends.  He  settled  in 
Danvers,  McLean  County,  111.,  where  his  most  useful 
life  was  terminated  by  a  painful  disease,  which  he 
bore  with  great  patience,  July  26th,  1873,  m  the 
68th  year  of  his  age. 


Il6  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  V. 


Churches  planted  in  Salem,  Canfield,  and  Austintown — John 
Henry — Origin  of  the  church  in  Braceville — Sketch  of  Marcus 
Bosworth — Biography  of  Jacob  Osborne. 


RO.  SCOTT  began  his  great  work  in  Salem,  Co 


-LJ  lumbiana  County,  in  April,  1828,  going  from  his 
stirring  meetings  in  Austintown  and  adjacent  regions. 
Prejudice  preceded  him,  raised  by  the  misrepresenta- 
tions of  Rev.  Vallandigham,  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter, of  New  Lisbon,  the  father  of  Hon.  C.  L.  Vallan- 
digham, of  later  and  wider  notoriety.  He  came  and 
warned  the  people  against  that  "apostate"  Scott;  de- 
claring that  he  gave  out  that  he  would  forgive  the 
sins  of  the  people,  with  other  statements  equally 
false  and  ridiculous.  A.  G.  Hayden,  residing  in  the 
vicinity  of  Salem,  fell  in  with  Scott  at  the  residence 
of  his  father,  Samuel  Hayden,  in  Youngstown.  By 
him  Scott  sent  an  appointment  to  Salem. 

He  came,  and  opened  to  a  full  house  the  watch-cry 
of  the  campaign,  the  word  of  the  Lord  and  pentecost. 
It  was  heard  with  mingled  delight,  wonder  and  doubt. 
People  rapidly  took  sides,  some  in  favor,  some  against 
the  new  doctrines,  as  many  regarded  them.  "  Why 
was  this  not  found  out  before  ? "  was  the  cry  of  many. 
"  I  know  not,"  it  was  replied,  "  except  that  the  time 
is  only  just  now  come  for  these  truths,  so  long  hid 
from  our  eyes,  to  be  found  out."  "  But  if  it  is  true," 
said  others,  "  our  preachers  would  have  seen  it  long 
ago  ;  it  would  not  have  been  left  for  Campbell  and 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


117 


Scott  to  find  it  out  at  this  day."  "Yes,"  it  was 
answered,  "just  so  objected  all  the  Catholic  clergy  to 
Luther  and  the  old  reformers." 

The  news  spread,  and  converts  were  multiplied. 
In  ten  days  he  baptized  forty  souls.  The  leading 
Baptists  were  delighted.  Polly  Strawn,  David  Gas- 
kill,  and  others,  came  forward  with  all  their  influence 
in  favor  of  the  work.  Singing  and  prayer  till  mid- 
night was  heard  in  many  dwellings.  The  converts 
were  received  to  baptism  on  the  confession  of  their 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  without  the  usual  rou- 
tine of  telling  an  "  experience,"  and  a  vote  of  the 
church. 

On  a  set  day,  Scott  called  them  all  forward  to  be 
received  as  members  of  the  church.  After  many  ex- 
hortations, the  question  was  propounded  to  the  church 
for  the  reception  of  the  converts  into  fellowship.  It 
was  unanimously  responded  to  in  the  affirmative ; 
and  this  great  effort,  crowned  with  such  blissful  re- 
sults, was  about  to  be  sealed  up  in  peace  and  com- 
plete harmony.  No  creed  had  been  presented  for 
the  converts  to  subscribe.  They  were  baptized  as 
converts  to  Christ ;  and  in  this  solemn  ordinance  they 
had,  as  the  apostles  expressed  it,  "put  on  Christ;" 
to  walk  in  him  in  all  the  experiences  and  duties,  of  a 
new  life.  None  had  demurred,  and  Scott,  feeling 
that  Christianity  had  now  completely  triumphed  over 
party,  exclaimed,  "  Who  will  now  say  there  is  a  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Salem  ? " 

This  gave  the  alarm.  Some  of  the  old  leaders 
thought  he  was  building  up  the  Baptist  Church,  while 
in  reality  he  was  employed  in  a  much  broader  and 
diviner  work,  that  of  bringing  sinners  unto  Christ 


I  1 8  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Jesus,  regardless  of  party  names,  lines,  or  limits. 
The  dear  name  and  cherished  forms  could  not  be  re- 
linquished. Then  followed  a  reaction — a  revolution. 
Then  came  conclaves,  conferences,  private  and  pro- 
tracted. Mrs.  Strawn,  a  lady  of  remarkable  ability, 
and  a  tactician  of  much  shrewdness,  was  especially 
active  in  this  crisis.  Some  Presbyterians  sympa- 
thized and  aided  to  push  the  car  backward.  The  old 
regime  was  restored,  and  the  order  was  issued  that 
all  the  new  members  must  appear  on  church-meeting- 
day,  relate  a  "  Christian  experience,"  and  come  in  by 
the  regular  way,  as  members  of  the  regular  Baptist 
Church. 

This  was  all  strange  and  unexpected.  The  lambs 
wanted  a  sheltering  fold.  Synods  and  investigation 
committees  were  to  them  unfamiliar  and  repulsive. 
They  were  disheartened.  They  scattered  ;  some  went 
into  other  churches,  some  gave  up  in  sorrow,  a  few 
submitted  to  the  orders  in  counsel,  and  entered  by 
that  door  into  that  fold. 

Out  of  this  action  arose  the  "  Phillips  Church," 
three  miles  south  of  Salem.  Robert  P.  Phillips,  a  man 
of  strong  will,  and  an  influential  citizen,  learned  the 
gospel  of  Scott,  and,  with  his  family,  was  among  the 
converts.  The  difference  between  the  gospel  and  all 
party  unions  was  clear  as  a  sunbeam  to  him  ;  and 
with  an  open  protest  against  putting  a  yoke  on  the 
disciples,  he  and  others  drew  off  and  stood  aloof. 
But  they  were  far  from  giving  up  their  faith  and  hope. 
He  opened  his  own  house  where  the  lambs  found 
shelter.  Preachers  came :  Geo.  W.  Lucy,  J.  E.  Gas- 
ton, J.  H.  Jones,  Whitacre,  and  many  others  ;  and 
soon  a  light  sprang  up  which  has  continued  to  this 


IN  THE  WESTERN   RESERVE.  I  19 

day.  Hayden  could  sing,  and  soon  he  was  called  tc 
be  a  leader.  -  They  organized  as  a  church  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1829.  The  unstinted  hospitality  of  Phillips 
and  other  brethren,  for  many  years  made  a  home  for 
the  itinerant  proclaimers  of  the  word  of  life ;  and 
aided  by  Hubbard,  Allerton,  Finch,  Hartzel,  and 
Schaeffer,  from  Deerfield ;  by  Hayden,  Henry,  Bos- 
worth,  and  Applegate,  and  not  a  little  by  George  Pow, 
of  Green,  this  united  and  affectionate  band  of  Chris- 
tians became  a  strong  and  ruling  church.  It  would 
take  a  page  to  record  all  who  have  reaped  in  this 
field,  and  who  carry  the  kindnesses  of  this  church  in 
happy  memory.  In  later  years,  H.  Reeves  and  S. 
B.  Teagarden  have  labored  there  with  success.  With 
Bro.  White  as  associate  overseer,  and  such  men  as 
Abram  Shinn  as  deacons,  this  church  has  won  a  repu- 
tation for  "durable  riches  and  righteousness." 

"  Every  wise  woman  buildeth  her  house."  says  Sol- 
omon. This  church  has  had  a  number  of  "  wise  wom- 
en," to  whom  is  due  no  small  share  of  the  credit  of 
building  up  the  Lord's  house.  To  their  prudence, 
piety,  sound  judgment,  and  perseverance,  much  more 
is  owing  than  will  be  known  till  the  day  of  judgment. 

After  a  few  years  the  effort  was  renewed  in  Salem, 
and  a  church  established.  Bro.  Geo.  Pow  rendered 
effective  service  in  planting  it,  and  Alexander  Pow 
also,  who  is  a  pillar  in  the  congregation.  The  breth- 
ren, with  enlightened  liberality,  have  erected  a  large, 
substantial  and  commodious  house.  The  congrega- 
tion, under  the  care  of  Bro.  Spindler,  ranks  among 
the  most  permanent  of  the  churches. 

Bro.  Geo.  Pow,  of  Green,  was  long  a  leader  and  a 
stay  of  the  churches  in  Columbiana  County.  He 


I2o  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

was  a  good  scholar,  and  endowed  with  a  breadth  of 
good  sense  and  candor,  which  made  him  superior  in 
counsel.  Critically  read  in  literature,  and  especially 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  his  speech  was  remarkable 
for  correctness  and  richness  of  instruction.  His  re- 
cent death  has  left  a  void  which  a  generation  will  not 
repair.  The  church  in  Green  was  much  indebted  to 
his  wisdom  for  the  strength  and  prosperity  to  which 
it  attained. 

The  Church  in  Canfield. 

This  church  was  formed  January  12th,  1822,  in 
David  Hay's  dwelling-house.  Thomas  Miller  was 
the  officiating  minister.  Deacon  Samuel  Hayden, 
William  Hayden,  and  John  Lane,  from  the  church 
of  Youngstown,  and  Elijah  Canfield,  Palmyra,  were 
the  counsel.  The  church  was  moderatively  Calvin- 
istic ;  progressive  in  spirit.  The  principal  members 
were  David  Hays,  William  Dean,  with  their  families, 
H.  Edsell,  Turner,  Wood,  and  Myron  Sackett. 

In  June,  1829,  the  following  entry  is  made  in  the 
church  record : 

"The  Baptist  Church,  constituted  in  1822,  so  continued 
till  1829.  During  this  time,  the  brethren  in  attending  to 
the  Word  of  God  in  search  of  truth,  began  to  doubt  the 
propriety  of  having  creeds,  or  articles  of  faith,  as  bonds 
of  church  fellowship.  The  result  was,  throwing  them 
away  as  useless,  believing  the  Scriptures  sufficient  to  make 
us  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.  We 
adopt  them  as  our  rule  of  faith  and  practice." 

In  the  winter  of  1827-8,  Bro.  Scott  opened,  at 
Simmons  Sackett's,  the  plea  of  the  ancient  gospel. 
The  second  chapter  of  Acts,  the  opening  of  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


121 


kingdom,  was  his  subject.  He  simplified,  and  en- 
forced it  so  pointedly  that  all  saw,  and  most,  on  ex- 
amination, accepted  the  truth.  He  showed  that  all 
parties  have  the  elements  of  the  gospel,  but  differently 
arranged  ;  and  that  as  the  same  letters  would  spell 
different  words,  according  to  the  arrangement  of 
them,  so  these  gospel  themes,  set  forth  in  one  order, 
formed  one  theory  on  which  one  sect  was  built ;  in 
another  order  arose  another  sect.  He  contended 
ably  for  the  restoration  of  the  true,  original,  apostolic 
order  of  them,  which  would  restore  to  the  church 
the  ancient  gospel  as  preached  by  the  apostles. 

The  interest  became  an  excitement.  All  tongues 
were  set  loose  in  investigation,  in  defense,  or  in  op- 
position ;  which  foreshadowed  good  results.  Nothing 
so  disastrous  to  the  sailor  as  a  dead  calm.  Let  the 
vessel  heave  under  a  tempest,  rather.  The  Bibles 
were  looked  up,  the  dust  brushed  off,  and  the  people 
began  to  read.  "  I  do  n't  believe  the  preacher  read 
that  Scripture  right."  "  My  Bible  does  not  read  that 
way,"  says  another.  The  book  is  opened,  and  lo ! 
there  stand  the  very  words  !  In  the  first  gospel  ser- 
mon, too — the  model  sermon — as  what  "began  at 
Jerusalem"  was  to  be  "  preached  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth."  The  air  was  thick  with  rumors  of  a  "new 
religion,"  a  "new  Bible,"  and  all  sorts  of  injurious,  and 
even  slanderous  imputations — so  new  had  become 
the  things  which  are  as  old  as  the  days  of  the  apos- 
tles. 

Scott's  sermons  gave  a  mighty  impulse  to  the  work. 
Many  converts  were  gained  for  Christ.    Some  of  the 
old  members  received  them  with  caution,  but  the 
church  made  them  welcome,  and,  ere  long,  by  the 
1 1 


122  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

prudent  exercise  of  Christian  forbearance,  they  were, 
like  "kindred  drops,"  all  "  mingled  into  one." 

Mr.  Scott  was  often  eccentric  ;  but  he  possessed 
the  talent  to  sustain  himself  and  turn  his  eccentricity 
to  good  account.  On  one  occasion,  when  the  whole 
country  around  was  almost  tremulous  with  the  excited 
state  of  feeling,  he  managed  to  slip  into  the  assem- 
bly unobserved,  and  seating  himself  far  back  with  his 
cloak  well  about  his  face,  and  his  broad-brimmed  hat 
well  drawn  down,  he  sat  listening  to  the  remarks  of 
the  assembling  multitude.  The  reader  must  remem- 
ber, as  an  excuse  for  the  darkness  of  the  room,  that 
the  candle  was  the  "light  of  other  days."  The  illu- 
minating oil  still  lay  concealed  in  God's  great  cellar. 
One  man  says,  in  a  low  tone:  "What  do  you  think 
of  Scott  ? "  without  waiting  a  reply,  "  I  never  heard 
such  a  preacher ;  he  is  hard  on  the  sects,  but  he  has 
the  Bible  on  his  tongue's  end."  Another:  "I  never 
read  such  things  in  the  Bible  as  he  is  telling  us."  His 
quick  ear  was  catching  these  "  droppings  "  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  room  became  packed.  "  Do  you  think  the 
preacher  is  coming?"  inquired  one.  "I  wonder 
if  he  will  not  disappoint  us  to-night  ?" 

Then  rising  to  full  position,  still  sitting  on  his  seat, 
laying  back  his  cloak  and  removing  his  hat,  Scott 
cried  out  in  his  magnificent  voice,  "And  what  went 
ye  out  into  the  wilderness  to  see  ?  A  reed  shaken 
with  the  wind  ?  But  what  went  ye  out  to  see  ?  A 
man  clothed  in  soft  raiment  ?  But  what  went  ye  out 
to  see  ?  A  prophet  ?  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  and  more 
than  a  prophet."  Matt.  xi.  Then  with  a  sweep,  and 
brilliancy,  and  point  that  astonished  and  instructed 
all,  he  discoursed  on  the  ministry  of  John  the  Bap- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


123 


tist ;  the  preparation  of  the  gospel ;  the  introduction 
of  Jesus  by  him  to  the  Jewish  nation  ;  and  carried 
his  audience  up  to  the  crucifixion,  the  resurrection 
and  coronation  of  the  Lord  of  glory,  and  the  descent 
on  pentecost  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  with  the  grand  events 
of  that  "notable  day  of  the  Lord."  It  is  needless  to 
pause  and  describe  the  wonderful  effect  of  this  sud- 
den outburst  and  powerful  rehearsal  of  the  gospel 
upon  his  astonished  auditors. 

There  were  members  here  of  sound  judgment, 
conservative,  but  progressive  and  thoroughly  settled 
in  the  conviction  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  were  a 
perfect  as  well  as  inspired  guide.  It  is  not  surpris- 
ing that  with  such  a  people  the  preaching  of  Scott 
was  held  under  cautious  examination.  All  opposi- 
tion subsided,  however,  when  they  saw  the  new  con- 
verts "  full  of  joy  and  the  Holy  Spirit,"  and  when 
they  saw  the  Scripture  language  warranted  the  prac- 
tice introduced  by  the  preacher.  Such  men  as  the 
Deans — father  and  sons — David  Hays,  and  Myron 
Sacket  were  just  the  men  for  a  new  movement ;  slow 
to  start,  but  firm  as  a  rock  when  convinced.  These, 
with  the  devoted  Ezra  Leonard,  and  a  number  of 
women,  such  as  those  of  whom  Paul  makes  honor- 
able mention,  formed  a  society  as  firm  and  intelligent 
as  any  on  the  Reserve. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  history,  dealing  chiefly 
with  the  outward,  sensible  phenomena  of  a  movement, 
fails  too  frequently  in  presenting  the  subjective  part — 
the  mental  and  emotional  struggles — in  which  the 
visible  and  tangible  facts  originate.  These  heart  con 
flicts  and  battles  of  conscience,  are  often  in  the 
highest  degree  instructive.    Fortunately  we  are  able 


124  EARLY    HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

to  give  something  of  this  inner  history  of  one  of 
these  original  members  of  the  church  in  Canfield : 

Myron  Sacket  descended  from  Presbyterian  ancestry,  in 
Warren,  Ct.  He  was  early  in  Ohio.  He  helped  to  build 
the  first  meeting-house  in  the  center  of  Canfield,  which 
was  erected  by  the  people  of  his  ancestral  faith,  and  in 
which  he  piously  hoped  to  be  a  life  worshiper.  In  1817, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Orpha  Dean,  of  Baptist  principles, 
and  equally  conscientious.  The  discrepancy  in  their 
views  was  a  trouble  to  them ;  and  they  sought  to  recon- 
cile the  disagreement,  each  honestly  supposing  the  other 
would  yield  to  increased  light.  He  brought  pamphlets 
and  sermons,  which  she  read  and  considered  ;  she  resorted 
to  the  word  of  the  Lord  in  its  plain  teaching  on  the  sub- 
ject of  baptism,  and  the  subjects  strictly  entitled  to  it. 
Sacket  was  disinclined  to  discussion,  a  man  of  quiet  and 
peaceable,  though  of  very  firm  habits  of  mind.  He  be- 
came so  aroused  to  the  investigation  that  he  opened  his 
Bible  anew.  He  read  the  New  Testament  twice  through 
to  find  infant  baptism,  noting  carefully  every  thing  bear- 
ing on  the  subject.  Many  times  he  turned  back  and  re- 
read, fearing  he  might  have  passed  by  it.  Disappointed 
and  grieved,  yet  loving  the  truth  rather  than  the  accepted 
convictions  of  early  training,  he  resolved  now  to  read  it 
for  a  far  different  purpose — which  was  to  learn  what  are 
the  teachings  of  the  Word  of  God  on  the  subject.  The 
result  was  a  clear  and  satisfied  conviction  that  the  New 
Testament  contains  no  trace  or  evidence  of  authority  for 
that  practice.  The  struggle  was  hard.  The  very  firmness 
of  the  man,  which  made  him  a  pillar  for  long  years  after- 
ward, made  the  transition  difficult.  But  the  conclusion, 
finally  reached,  was  never  reversed  nor  regretted.  Both 
himself  and  wife,  now  one  in  faith  as  well  as  in  matrimo- 
nial union,  put  on  Christ  in  his  own  holy  baptism,  on  the 
same  day.    This  was  in  18 19. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


125 


After  Bro.  Sacket  had  accepted  Baptist  principles,  an 
uncle  from  Connecticut  asked  him  how  he  could  degen- 
erate from  the  principles  of  his  parental  belief  to  unite 
with  the  Baptists,  a  people  of  much  lower  grade  of  learn- 
ing and  position  ?  His  answer  was  significant:  "  I  read 
and  carefully  studied  the  Word  of  God  for  light,  and  find- 
ing no  support  for  those  principles,  I  was  compelled  to 
give  them  up." 

Few  men  ever  rendered  more  efficient  and  substantial 
support  to  the  cause  of  the  primitive  gospel.  His  house 
was  long  a  home  for  the  people  of  God.  The  terms, 
"meekness  and  fear,"  applied  justly  to  him.  He  was 
slow  to  accept  the  light  which  Scott  brought,  but  step  by 
step  he  came  with  the  wealth  of  a  ripe  Christian  experi- 
ence and  sound  judgment ;  and  was  ever  afterward  unfal- 
tering in  its  support. 

This  church  continued  to  meet  in  the  north-west 
part  of  the  township,  where  they  built  a  comfortable 
meeting-house.  -At  this  period,  William  Hayden 
was  a  member  of  it,  though  his  residence  was  in 
Austintown.  In  the  month  of  May,  1828,  the  con- 
gregation, after  full  proof  of  his  abilities  in  public 
speaking,  and  recognizing  his  zeal  and  knowledge  of 
the  Scriptures,  gave  him  their  sanction  and  ap- 
proval as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  Thus  licensed 
and  commended  to  other  churches,  he  gave  himself 
more  diligently  to  the  work.  The  eminence  which 
he  subsequently  attained,  justified  this  action,  and 
vindicated  their  discernment  of  his  improvable  gifts. 

In  the  same  vicinity  there  was  forming  a  com- 
munity known  as  "  Bible  Christians."  Wm.  Schooley, 
living  in  Salem,  was  their  principal  preacher.  These 
two  churches — the  "Christians"  and  the  Disciples — 
became  better  acquainted,  and  Bro.  Schooley  him- 


126  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


self  having  united  with  the  Disciples  in  Salem,  these 
communities  united  as  one  brotherhood  in  Christ ; 
thus  giving  a  practical  illustration  of  the  union  and 
co-operation  of  Christians  on  the  original  foundation. 
The  Flicks,  the  Shattoes  and  all,  about  twenty,  were 
enrolled  with  the  Disciples,  as  one  people  in  Christ. 
This  event  took  place  January  23,  1830. 

This  church  was  never  very  numerous,  about 
seventy  being  the  highest  number.  But  they  kept 
up  a  respectable  visibility  many  years.  Their  record 
for  the  great  yearly  meetings  of  the  Disciples  of  the 
county,  is  highly  honorable.  Like  many  others,  she 
has  brought  multitudes  of  converts  to  the  fold  of 
Christ,  and  has  sent  out  her  sons  and  daughters  to 
carry  on  the  good  work  in  other  lands.  The  church 
in  Center,  Rock  County,  Wisconsin,  is  a  planting 
from  Canfield.  The  Parmelys,  the  Deans,  Orsemus 
and  his^family,  while  weakening  this  by  their  removal, 
greatly  strengthened  that  church. 

In  the  fall  of  1827,  some  time  after  his  appoint- 
ment as  the  evangelist,  this  church  moved  Bro. 
Scott's  family  into  their  midst,  and  contributed  lib- 
erally to  their  support.  Scott  bought,  and  built  a 
house,  intending  this  as  a  permanent  residence. 
But  his  changing  field  of  labor  altered  his  plans. 
The  home  talent  of  the  church  has  always  been  her 
chief  reliance  for  edification.  But  for  many  years 
she  had  the  labors  occasionally,  and  sometimes  stat- 
edly, of  the  preachers  of  the  county. 

As  several  families  resided  at  and  near  the  center 
of  the  township,  the  church  gave  consent  for  them 
to  form  a  separate  congregation.  Accordingly,  in  the 
spring  of  1847,  about  twenty  associated  themselves 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


127 


together  in  that  relation.  They  were  organized  by 
Bro.  J.  W.  Lanphear.  J.  M.  Caldwell  and  Andrew 
Flick  were  elders ;  Walter  Clark  and  John  Flick, 
deacons.  They  were  aided  by  the  labors  of  Breth- 
ren Pow,  Applegate,  Belton,  Phillips,  John  Errett, 
Dr.  Hillock,  White,  F.  M.  Green,  Van  Horn,  and 
Edwin  Rogers. 

The  church  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town- 
ship, reduced  by  removals — the  old  members  having 
all  gone  over  the  river  into  the  promised  land — after 
struggling  in  feebleness  for  awhile  resolved  to  unite 
with  the  body  at  the  center.  This  union  was  effected 
October  6,  1867. 

The  Church  in  Austintown 

was  constituted  June  16,  1828.  The  remains  of 
the  Baptist  church,  once  flourishing,  lay  in  a  waste 
and  decaying  condition  over  portions  of  Youngstown 
and  Austintown.  In  the  winter  of  18 16,  a  revival 
occurred  under  the  labors  of  Elder  Joshua  Wood- 
worth,  a  humble  and  devoted  minister.  About  forty 
were  converted  ;  among  the  converts  were  William 
Hayden,  then  a  youth,  and  others,  still  younger,  of 
the  same  family.  The  counselors  of  the  church 
thought  it  necessary  to  have  the  young  converts  in- 
structed in  the  "  doctrines  "  of  the  gospel,  "  election," 
and  kindred  themes.  So  the  faithful  minister,  loved 
as  a  father,  was  dismissed,  and  Wm.  West  was  called. 
He  was  more  learned,  but  straight,  cold,  Calvinistic. 
Under  his  reign  the  kingdom  was  dissolved.  Zeal 
languished  under  doctrinal  sermons.  Discipline 
went  by  rule  rather  than  by  love.  Covenant  meet- 
ings became  courts.    Appeals  were  taken,  and  coun- 


128  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


sels  called.  The  lambs  fled  from  the  fold  ;  conver- 
sions ceased  ;  the  light  grew  dim,  and  the  church 
had  but  a  name  to  live.  Elder  West  was  still  in 
the  community  when  Bro.  Scott  opened  the  gospel 
plea  there,  and  opposed  his  work. 

The  following  sketch  of  affairs  there  is  from  the 
pen  of  Walter  Scott : 

"When  called  about  two  years  ago,  I  found  the  church 
in  a  state  of  entire  prostration.  For  four  years  they  had 
not  eaten  the  Lord's  Supper ;  all  was  delinquency — a  perfect 
web  of  wickedness,  the  like  of  which  I  never  had  seen.  It 
was  an  involved  labyrinth  of  personal  and  family  quarrels. 
For  about  three  weeks  I  strove  to  disentangle  the  sincere- 
hearted,  but  in  vain.  Strife  is  like  the  lettings  out  of 
water — what  is  spilt  is  lost.  When  the  threads  and  fila- 
ments of  a  quarrel  have  forced  themselves  like  waves  over 
the  whole  body  ecclesiastic,  that  body  should  be  dissolved. 
We  accordingly  looked  upon  this  institution  to  be  entirely 
lost,  and  began  to  preach  the  ancient  gospel — the  word 
of  the  Lord  as  a  hammer  and  a  fire.  All  hearts  were  im- 
mediately broken  or  burnt ;  and  of  that  sinful  people 
there  have  been  immersed  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty 
individuals.  These  have  become  a  church,  and  are  walking 
in  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord,  blame- 
less, as  I  hope.  The  Scriptures  are  their  sole  authority, 
and  they  have  three  bishops,  bold  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
five  deacons.' ; 

The  religious  awakening  which  restored  the  church, 
or  rather  built  it  anew  on  apostolic  foundations,  be- 
gan in  Austintown,  in  February,  1828,  soon  after  the 
great  meeting  in  Warren.  A  young  man  by  the 
name  of  Asa  Jones  became  serious,  and,  expressing 
a  wish  to  become  a  Christian,  Bro.  Bentley  was  sent 
for.    He  preached  in  the  school-house  where  William 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


I29 


Hayden  was  teaching.  When  the  sermon  closed,  an 
opportunity  being  offered,  the  young  man  arose,  de- 
clared his  purposes,  expressed  much  joy  in  believing, 
and  appealed  to  his  friends  to  follow  him  to  Jesus. 
Next  day,  Bro.  Bentley  preached  and  baptized  this 
person  and  eight  others.  John  Henry  and  his  wife 
were  of  the  number. 

Bentley  returned  home,  but  a  work  had  com- 
menced which  was  soon  to  become  wide  and  gen- 
eral. The  converts  were  clear  in  their  conversion, 
and  active.  William  Hayden  was  greatly  delighted  by 
the  conversion  of  his  particular  associate  and  neigh- 
bor, John  Henry,  a  man  of  great  weight  in  the  com- 
munity, and  possessed  of  abilities,  which  Hayden 
clearly  foresaw  would  be  likely  to  turn  to  much  use- 
fulness. 

About  three  weeks  after  this,  Scott  sent  an  ap- 
pointment to  preach  in  the  "Jones'  school-house." 
He  came  Wednesday  the  19th  of  March.  A  full 
house  was  in  waiting.  He  hurried  his  audience  to 
the  line  of  decision,  classing  all  the  world  in  two 
parties — Christ's  and  the  devil's.  He  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  Christ's  kingdom  in  the  grand  affair  of 
his  death,  burial,  resurrection,  ascension,  coronation, 
and  the  inauguration  of  his  reign  on  earth  on  the  day 
of  Pentecost.  Among  the  startling  utterances  of 
that  sermon,  he  said  :  "  We  can  have  a  revival  of  re- 
ligion whenever  we  want  it !  Strange !  strangely 
marvelous  !  Differing  wide  as  the  heavens  from  all 
we  had  ever  heard !  Can  we  obtain  this  glorious 
prize — regeneration,  pardon,  and  peace  ?  "  Thoughts 
hurried  to  and  fro,  as  Scott  talked  on  and  showed 
that  Christ's  work  was  finished,  his  sacrifice  com- 


130  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

plete,  the  "  oxen  and  fatlings  were  killed,"  the  table 
was  spread,  "  all  things  are  now  ready,"  and  had  been 
ready  for  eighteen  hundred  years — nothing  now  but 
for  sinners  to  hear,  and  come,  and  find  a  welcome  to 
salvation  by  the  Master  of  the  feast. 

This  was  gospel.  "  Why  have  I  been  waiting  so 
long  ?  why  has  no  one  ever  told  me  that  before  ? " 
Thus  reasoning  and  feeling,  five  came  to  the  decision 
and  yielded.  That  night  the  crowd  was  increased  ; 
and  next  day,  March  20th,  twelve  of  us  were  by  his 
hands  lifted  into  the  kingdom. 

The  whole  country  was  in  commotion.  Converts 
came  at  almost  every  meeting.  But  the  excitement 
was  to  become  higher,  and  to  penetrate  a  new  class 
of  society,  as  I  proceed  to  relate. 

Aylett  Raines  and  the  Restorationists. 

While  Mr.  Raines  was  on  his  tour  preaching,  and 
previous  to  his  baptism  by  Bro.  Williams,  he  came  to 
Austintown.  It  was  in  April.  He  already  had  a 
high  reputation,  especially  among  the  Restorationists, 
who  were  numerous.  News  circulated  that  he  was 
coming  to  preach  his  renunciation  of  Universalism. 
A  crowd  assembled  and  filled  the  house.  He  opened 
on  the  mission  of  the  apostles  as  the  embassadors 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  authorized  expounders  of  his 
will.  Their  preaching  was  the  commission  carried 
out  according  to  Christ's  will  and  intention  ;  as  they 
were  not  only  commissioned  by  him,  but  miraculously 
assisted  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  that  their  preaching, 
as  reported  in  the  book  of  Acts,  is  the  full,  complete, 
authoritative  guide  in  preaching  the  gospel,  and  re- 
ceiving sinners  to  the  church  ;  that  as  they,  in  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  1 3  I 

opening  of  their  mission  on  pentecost,  and  always 
afterward  throughout  the  world,  preached  to  the  be- 
lievers that  they  should  repent  and  be  baptized,  in 
the  name  of  Christ,  for  the  remission  of  sins  ;  this 
is  our  model  to  the  end  of  time,  and,  consequently, 
no  preaching  which  differs  from  this  model  has  any 
authority  in  the  Word  of  God.  He  concluded  his 
long  and  argumentative  discourse  in  these  words : 

"  My  friends,  I  find  myself  in  a  strait  ;  I  am  shut  up 
in  a  dilemma  ;  and  I  can  see  no  way  out,  with  the  Word 
of  God  in  my  hand,  but  through  the  obedience  of  faith 
in  baptism.  If  any  of  you  can  see  any  other,  I  im- 
plore you  in  the  name  of  my  Master  to  show  it  to  me." 

The  sensation,  which  was  perceptible  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  sermon,  grew  in  intensity  as  he  pro- 
ceeded, till  it  heightened  to  a  tumult.  As  soon  as  the 
meeting  closed,  persons  who  had  come  in  big  wag- 
ons, and  had  brought  their  chairs  into  the  house  for 
seats,  jerked  up  their  chairs,  started  over  the  benches, 
and  hurried  to  their  homes.  The  medicine  was  work- 
ing. The  patients  were  bilious.  The  remedy  was 
heroic.  Raines  was  calm.  The  Disciples  were  happy. 
The  Universalists,  who  composed  the  larger  part  of 
the  assembly,  were  disappointed,  grieved  and  cha- 
grined. Their  champion  had  left  them  and  gone  over 
to  this  new  and  specious  heresy.  We  can  not  have 
it  thus  ;  we  will  not  stop  and  reason  calmly  with-  him 
and  show  him  his  error,  as  he  earnestly  besought  us. 
"  To  your  tents,  O  Israel ! "  The  very  horses  felt  a 
touch  of  the  excitement  of  their  drivers  ! 

That  discourse  worked  miracles  ;  that  is,  if  conver- 
sion, as  we  had  been  taught,  was  in  every  case  a 
miracle.    It  had  driven  nails  in  sure  places,  "  as  nails 


132  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

fastened  by  the  master  of  assemblies."  Eccl.  xii :  1 1. 
William  Hayden  preached  in  the  afternoon  the  same 
day,  and  baptized  several  converts. 

The  church  of  Austintown  was  one  of  the  first  in 
north-eastern  Ohio,  built  on  "  the  foundation  of  the 
apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the 
chief  corner."  The  day  appointed  for  collecting  the 
disciples  as  a  church  of  Christ  was  fair,  and  a  large 
assembly  convened.  Scott,  Bentley,  and  Raines  were 
present.  After  a  discourse  in  the  house,  we  were 
called  out  upon  the  green  in  front  of  it.  Here  all 
the  disciples,  one  hundred  and  ten  in  number,  were 
disposed  in  a  large  circle.  A  space  was  open  on  one 
side  of  about  twelve  feet,  in  which  stood  the  preach- 
ers. Thus,  each  member,  with  his  right  hand  clasp- 
ing the  left  of  the  one  next  him,  so  stood,  that  he 
could  see  all  the  rest,  and  also  the  brethren  to  whom 
we  owed  so  much  under  Christ,  and  who  were,  in  the 
most  solemn  manner,  about  to  form  and  declare  us 
an  organized  church.  Each  of  the  preachers,  in  turn, 
addressed  us  in  the  most  earnest  exhortation,  in  the 
things  pertaining  to  the  duties  of  this  new  relation, 
while  all  stood  uncovered  under  the  open  canopy  of 
heaven.  Then  followed  a  prayer  by  Bro.  Scott,  implor- 
ring  blessings  unbounded  and  unending  from  the 
divine  Head  upon  every  member  of  his  mystic  body. 
Then  the  hymn  : 

"  Lo  !  he  comes,  -w  ith  clouds  descending, 
Once  for  favored  sinners  slain," 

led  by  Hayden  and  Henry,  was  sung  with  raptures 
of  joy.  So  began  the  church  of  Austintown.  It  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  William  Hayden.  Bro. 
Henry  was  soon  called  to  his  side  ;  and  not  long 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


133 


after,  Alexander  Spears  was  chosen  also  to  the  elder- 
ship. 

Biography  of  John  Henry. 

To  few  men  has  it  been  granted  to  gain  such  a  celebrity 
in  so  short  a  time  as  was  won  by  this  gifted  man.  His 
public  ministry  was  only  a  little  over  thirteen  years,  in 
which  time  his  personal  labors  extended  from  central  Ohio 
to  central  Pennsylvania,  and  into  Virginia;  and  his  fame 
spanned  the  continent.  In  all  that  constitutes  brilliancy, 
dash  and  boldness,  he  was  a  very  hero.  He  was  born  in 
Chartiers  township,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  October  1, 
1797.  It  is  declared  of  him  that  he  sung  tunes  when  not 
a  year  old,  but  he  did  not  talk  till  he  was  four.  He  came 
with  his  father,  Francis  Henry,  to  Poland,  Ohio,  April, 
1803.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Kyle,  January  10,  1822,  and 
settled  on  new  lands  in  Austintown  the  next  spring. 

He  was  a  leader  in  every  thing  he  undertook.  In  the 
days  of  military  training,  he  was  music-major  of  regiments. 
A  few  blasts  of  his  bugle  would  start  up  every  soldier,  and 
the  exact  time  of  his  movement  infused  martial  valor  into 
all  around.  When  he  turned  to  the  Lord  he  quite  aban- 
doned this  practice,  and  turned  his  musical  talents,  which 
were  of  a  high  order  and  well  trained,  to  gather  and  lead 
the  bannered  hosts  of  the  Lord.  As  a  farmer  he  did  more 
work  than  any  other,  save  one  man.  He  excepted  Wil- 
liam Hayden.  He  played  on  nine  kinds  of  instruments ; 
his  favorites  were  the  violin  and  the  clarionet. 

He  was  trained  under  the  strictest  rules  of  Presbyteri- 
anism.  As  the  "  Christian  Baptist"  appeared,  William 
Hayden  passed  the  numbers  over  to  the  hands  of  his  friend 
Henry,  whose  penetrating  mind  grasped  the  great  principles 
it  unfolded.  He  was  ripened  for  the  sickle  of  truth,  so  that 
when  Bentley  came,  he  and  his  faithful  wife  were  among  the 
converts — the  first  fruits  of  a  large  ingathering.  The  writer 
has  the  most  vivid  recollection  of  the  scene,  as  the  excellent 


134  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Bentley,  tall  and  venerable,  led  this  man  of  commanding 
form,  who  stood  six  feet  two  inches,  then  in  his  thirty-first 
year,  and  laid  him  beneath  the  waters  of  baptism  after 
the  example  of  the  Lord. 

He  gave  himself  at  once  to  the  diligent  study  of  the 
Bible.  He  read  little  else,  he  studied  nothing  else ;  except, 
perhaps,  church  history.  His  taste  was  for  history,  and 
his  sermons  were  largely  historic  recitals  of  the  life  and 
work  of  Christ,  and  the  preaching  of  the  apostles,  with 
historic  illustration  from  the  Old  Testament,  delivered  in 
so  fresh,  forcible,  and  fluent  a  style,  that  as  a  speaker,  few 
equaled  him  in  instructive  and  entertaining  discourse.  But 
the  power  of  his  sermons  was  much  in  the  authority  with 
which  they  were  spoken.  Without  any  of  the  studied  arts 
of  oratory,  he  often  moved  on  great  assemblies  with  a 
mastery  that  chained  attention  for  two  hours.  Without 
rhetoric,  his  speech  abounded  in  fine  tropes,  especially  in 
metaphors ;  and  not  unfrequently  he  arose  to  a  pomp  of 
diction  equaled  only  by  the  finest  orators. 

In  person  he  was  tall,  rather  spare,  with  sandy  com- 
plexion and  sharp  features,  quick  in  movement,  as  in  the 
operations  of  his  mind,  and  when  he  walked  he  planted 
his  feet  with  a  tread  which  showed  the  firmness  of  the  man. 
Cheerful,  at  times  almost  to  levity,  very  social,  kind  hearted, 
and  with  wit  like  a  polished  rapier,  whatever  "his  hand 
found  to  do  he  did  with  his  might."  He  was  in  Smith- 
field,  Jefferson  County,  when  he  was  informed  by  a  special 
messenger,  March  12th,  of  the  supposed  fatal  sickness  of 
his  wife.  He  would  have  started  after  the  night  meeting 
for  home,  but  friends  interfering,  he  rested  a  time.  Before 
day  dawned  he  was  in  his  saddle,  and  that  night,  the  13th, 
he  was  at  home ;  a  distance  of  seventy  miles.  The  Yellow 
Creek  was  so  high  it  nearly  swam  his  horse.  He  watched 
his  wife  most  assiduously,  and  saw  her  recovery ;  then  fell 
a  victim  to  the  same  disease,  typhoid  fever,  after  sixteen 
days'  sickness,  May  1,  1844. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  1 35 

His  work  is  interwoven  with  the  groundwork  of  this 
cause  through  the  whole  Western  Reserve.  Though  un- 
cultured, he  was  not  rude.  He  was  high-minded  and  hon- 
orable, and  immensely  popular  with  the  people.  In  the 
early  day  he  and  Mr.  Campbell  met  at  the  Plains-meeting- 
house, near  Minerva.  Many  had  never  seen  either  of 
them.  Henry  preached  in  the  morning,  and  the  people 
thought  it  was  Campbell.  After  an  interval  Mr.  Camp- 
bell preached,  and  many  of  the  hearers  said  :  "We  wish 
that  man  would  sit  down,  and  let  Campbell  get  up,  for  he 
knows  how  to  preach  ! ' ' 

There  was  lamentation  in  all  the  churches  when  he  died. 
The  feeling  is  well  remembered  and  distinctly  defined. 
It  was  less  a  murmuring,  than  a  deep,  sad,  silent  grief. 
Bro.  Campbell  wrote  of  him  at  the  time:  "Bro.  John 
Henry,  as  a  preacher  of  a  particular  order  of  preachers, 
had  no  equal — no  superior.  He  was  not  only  mighty  in 
the  Scriptures  as  a  preacher  and  teacher,  but  was  also  emi- 
nently exemplary  in  the  social  virtues  of  Christianity.  His 
praise  is  in  all  the  churches  in  the  Western  Reserve  and 
circumjacent  country." 

He  was  bold,  brave,  fearless,  cheerful  and  animated  ;  the 
life  of  society,  humble,  generous,  and  of  unfeigned  faith; 
of  great  power,  of  tremendous  force,  and  mighty  and  elo- 
quent in  the  Scriptures;  he  "hewed  Agag  in  pieces,  and 
slew  kings  in  the  day  of  his  wrath."  All  prized  and  hon- 
ored him,  and  the  remembrance  of  him  stirs  the  fainting 
purpose  to  unbounded  courage.  Hundreds  yet  remember 
him,  as  with  more  prowess  than  the  Knights  of  St.  John, 
he  would  return  from  a  successful  charge,  victor  over  legions 
of  the  king's  enemies ;  and  the  blasts  of  his  triumph  gave 
courage  to  all  the  faint-hearted.  Though  not  always  dis- 
creet, his  bravery  was  of  the  first  quality.  He  never  lifted 
his  spear  but  in  victory.  His  enemies  gathered  near  to 
behold  the  agile  dexterity  and  massive  power  with  which 
he  felled  to  the  ground  the  foes  of  God. 


I36  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

His  memory  was  as  capacious  as  the  Mediterranean. 
Eminently  was  he,  as  the  orator  has  it,  the  "  man  of  one 
book."  The  Bible  was  his  store-house,  his  treasury,  his 
exhaustless  fountain.  He  read  it  morning,  at  noon  and 
night,  and  all  he  ever  read  he  remembered.  He  could  re- 
peat it  by  chapters  and  by  books.  It  was  his  book  of  his- 
tory, of  archaeology,  of  travels,  of  biography,  of  incident, 
event  and  anecdote,  of  moral  power  and  religious  persua- 
sion. Nothing  in  society  for  which  he  found  not  a  coun- 
terpoint in  that  Daguerrean  gallery  of  all  truth,  all  duty, 
all  motive. 

Brief  and  brilliant  his  career.  The  most  loved 
him — all  beheld  him  with  admiration.  All  love  to  cherish 
and  honor  his  memory,  while  within  a  narrower  circle,  sa- 
cred and  still  as  where  mourners  move,  he  is  the  idol  of 
an  affection  next  akin  to  the  feeling  that  worships. 

Forty-seven  years  the  church  in  Austintown  has 
stood  against  all  the  forces  arrayed  against  it.  It 
has  never  ceased  to  meet,  except  by  voluntary  ad- 
journment, to  attend  the  yearly  meetings.  Under 
the  wise  and  careful  eldership  of  Bro.  Ira  McCollum, 
one  of  its  charter  members,  and  Bro.  Joshua  Kyle, 
who  for  many  years  have  held  the  helm,  she  has  kept 
her  course  steady  and  constant  toward  the  harbor. 

Newton  Falls. 

The  church  in  Braceville  and  Newton  Falls  was 
formed  on  Baptist  principles,  early  in  the  year  1820. 
The  origin  of  it,  and  the  history  of  Marcus  Bosworth, 
can  not  be  dissociated. 

Bosworth  was  born  in  Plymouth  County,  Massachusetts, 
July  11,  1794.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Ward,  Sep- 
tember 9,  1814,  and  came  to  Braceville,  June,  1816.  In 
the  year  1818,  a  revival  occurred  among  the  Presbyter- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


137 


ians,  and  Bosworth  and  his  wife  were  among  the  converts. 
Though  trained  up  in  the  Baptist  order,  they  were  willing 
to  worship  with  the  Presbyterians,  and  they  searched  dil- 
igently the  word  of  God  for  sprinkling  as  baptism;  but 
they  found  it  not.  In  the  fall  of  1819,  Thomas  Miller, 
a  Baptist  minister,  preached  at  Esq.  Johnson's  house.  By 
him,  Bosworth  and  his  wife  were  baptized.  "The  hap- 
piest day  of  our  lives,"  said  the  venerable  sister  Bos- 
worth, who,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one,  recited  these  scenes. 
Next  year,  under  the  labors  of  Mr.  Miller,  was  formed  the 
Baptist  church  in  Braceville,  which  called  Bro.  Bosworth 
to  act  as  deacon.  Active  and  warm-hearted,  he  improved 
so  rapidly  in  speaking  that  the  church  encouraged  his  as- 
pirations to  higher  usefulness.  He  yielded  to  this  decision, 
and  as  much  as  the  care  of  his  farm  would  permit,  he  gave 
himself  to  the  ministry  of  the  word. 

Bosworth  attended  the  ministers'  meeting  in  Warren, 
October,  1821,  and  there  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Campbell,  and  heard  much  from  him  on  a  return  to  orig- 
inal Christianity,  in  its  form,  teaching,  and  models,  as  set 
forth  in  the  New  Testament.  His  receptive  mind  heard 
attentively  and  with  little  prejudice.  Yet  he  prudently 
held  these  views  subject  to  further  consideration.  The  re- 
moval to  Braceville,  in  1825,  of  Jacob  Osborne,  gave  a 
fresh  impulse  to  the  scriptural  investigations  already  ad- 
vancing. Meanwhile  Bosworth' s  improvement  of  his  gifts 
in  public  discourse  continuing  to  be  satisfactory,  he  was 
ordained  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  in  October,  1827. 
Adamson  Bentley  and  Sidney  Rigdon  were  called  by  the 
church  as  the  council  on  the  occasion. 

Bfo.  Bosworth  gave  himself  ardently  to  the  work  of 
preaching.  His  heart  was  all  aglow  with  the  love  of  souls, 
and  many  were  turned  to  the  Lord  by  him.  He  traveled 
much  in  other  counties  and  other  States ;  yet  he  worked 
on  his  farm  when  at  home,  to  support  his  family.  Preach- 
ers received  little  in  those  days  for  their  labors.  Some- 
12 


133 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


times,  in  a  long  trip,  he  got  less  than  the  cost  of  shoeing 
his  horse.  It  was  the  fault  of  the  times  that  Bosworth, 
Alton,  Applegate,  Collins,  and  quite  all  the  early  preach- 
ers were  suffered  to  go  to  the  warfare  at  their  own  charges. 
A  good  wife  at  home,  and  a  good  Father  in  heaven,  kept 
Bosworth  in  his  saddle.  Yet  he  was  much  at  home,  to 
lead  his  sons  in  the  needful  industries  of  the  farm.  For 
many  years  coming  guests  enjoyed  the  bountiful  hospitali- 
ties of  his  home. 

He  was  constant  in  prayer.  He  maintained  worship 
daily  in  his  family.  His  wife  frequently  heard  him  in 
prayer  when  he  thought  himself  secluded.  He  often 
prayed  in  his  house  after  the  family  had  retired. 

He  was  abundant  in  labors.  He  saved  not  himself,  that 
he  might  serve  the  Lord  and  bless  his  family.  No  man 
need  be  more  tender  or  amiable  in  his  home.  He  rode 
sometimes  from  New  Lisbon  home,  a  distance  of  about 
forty  miles,  after  meeting,  reaching  home  past  midnight. 
He  was  very  feeble  a  year  or  more  before  his  decease.  In 
the  fall  of  1846  a  cough  settled  on  his  lungs,  which  never 
left  him.  June  10,  1847,  m  the  calmest  repose  in  Jesus, 
he  gave  his  spirit  to  his  God.  He  was  a  most  agreeable, 
companionable  man,  easy  and  fluent  in  conversation, 
mirthful  at  times,  but  never  trifling.  His  preaching  was 
more  exhortational  than  argumentative.  Frequently  his 
whole  audience  were  in  tears,  while  his  own  came  unbid- 
den, and  fell  as  the  rain  on  roses.  He  moved  amidst 
new  converts.  His  persuasive  appeals  to  the  converted 
to  manifest  in  their  conduct  their  new  life  in  Christ  were 
most  earnest  and  effective.  A  godly  man  with  scarce  a 
foil  in  the  bright  picture  of  his  life. 

At  one  time  he  visited  a  fellow-member  of  the 
church,  and  the  conversation  turned  on  the  design  of 
baptism  as  set  forth  in  Acts  ii  :  38 ;  that  it  is  to  put 
the  believing,  penitent  sinner  in  possession  of  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


139 


joys  of  pardon  through  the  divine  promise.  The  man 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  accept  the  testimony  of  the 
Holy  Scripture,  and  he  replied:  "You  may  bring  as 
many  Scriptures  to  prove  it  as  you  please,  I  will  not 
believe  it."  Bosworth  turned  away,  sad  to  see  men 
hopelessly  wedded  to  their  views  and  traditions,  be- 
yond recovery  by  the  power  of  the  word  of  God. 

Once  a  Baptist  minister  paraded  himself  in  front 
of  him,  prepared  to  take  notes  of  his  sermon,  prob- 
ably expecting  to  intimidate  the  preacher.  Bosworth 
felt  a  fresh  inspiration,  and  being  a  clear  and  rapid 
speaker,  he  gave  forth  his  discourse  in  such  copious 
fullness,  the  minister  failed  to  keep  in  sight  of  him. 
After  the  meeting,  being  asked  to  show  his  notes, 
he  turned  away,  saying,  "  they  are  very  general,  not 
very  plain  ! " 

Though  the  church  in  Braceville  was  originally 
Baptist  in  name,  its  creed  was  not  held  rigidly. 
Love  prevailed  over  law,  and  the  Bible  eventually 
superseded  the  Confession  of  Faith.  In  the  discus- 
sions which  resulted  in  the  displacement  of  all  doc- 
trinal dogmas  as  grounds  of  Christian  fellowship, 
this  brotherhood  bore  a  leading  part.  They  formally 
organized  as  Christians,  March  20,  1828,  declaring 
the  Holy  Scriptures  sufficient  for  all  purposes  of 
faith  and  practice.  Their  number  was  then  twenty- 
eight.  Marcus  Bosworth  was  appointed  the  over- 
seer. The  church  in  Braceville  was  probably  the 
first  on  the  Western  Reserve,  which  formally  adopted 
this  divine  platform  as  their  only  basis.  It  was  in- 
creased by  twelve  conversions  at  that  time. 

From  this  time  till  the  fall  of  1839,  when  they 
completed  the  meeting-house  at  Newton  Falls,  the 


140  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


church  met  at  different  places,  mostly  in  school- 
houses.  Bro.  Osborne  soon  removed  to  Warren, 
but  other  help  was  not  wanting,  and  all  the  pro- 
claimed gathered  in  souls  to  God  in  this  enterpris- 
ing church.  Yet  Bro.  M.  Bosworth  was  their  con- 
stant reliance,  who,  with  all  his  travels  abroad 
preaching,  did  far  more  to  sustain  the  church  than 
any  other  man. 

Amos  Clark  served  as  overseer  along  with  Bro. 
Bosworth  ;  Joel  Bradford  also.  Henry  Harsh  and  Be- 
noni  Johnson  were  early  deacons. 

When  the  congregation  established  itself  in  their 
new  house  at  the  falls,  they  procured  more  constant 
preaching,  and  increased  in  numbers  and  in  com- 
mand of  the  public  ear. 

Memoir  of  Jacob  Osborne. 

His  birth  dates  with  the  birth  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. His  parents  lived  near  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  They 
were  of  the  Baptist  order.  His  mother  was  a  very  pious  and 
active  Christian.  Early  in  life  their  son  Jacob  was 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  his  sinful  state,  and  finding  hope, 
he  was  baptized,  and  almost  immediately  entered  the  min- 
istry. He  was  licensed  to  preach  when  only  nineteen 
years  of  age.  His  pure  life,  reserved,  winning  manners, 
devotion  to  study,  and  unvarying  attentions  to  the  offices 
of  religion,  awakened  great  hopes  of  his  future  usefulness. 
In  person,  rather  tall,  very  erect,  comely  of  form  and 
countenance,  a  voice  not  strong,  but  clear  and  very  at- 
tractive. 

In  1 82 1,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  entered  Mr. 
Campbell's  seminary  on  Buffalo  Creek,  Virginia,  along 
with  Joseph  Freeman,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
making  most  diligent  application  in  his  studies.  During 


IN  THE   WESTERN  RESERVE. 


141 


this  time  he  employed  his  talents  preaching  in  localities 
within  reach  of  the  seminary.  Becoming  acquainted  in 
the  family  of  the  McElroys,  Washington  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania— a  family  of  marked  character  for  manliness,  deci- 
sion, energy,  and  promptitude,  and  for  devotion  to  the 
principles  of  religious  reform — Mr.  Osborne  was  united 
in  marriage  to  their  sister,  Miss  Susan  McElroy.  He  was 
principal  of  the  academy  in  Wellsburg  one  year,  and 
preached  in  that  town  and  vicinity.  He  came  to  the 
Western  Reserve,  and  settled  in  Hiram,  in  the  fall  of 
1824.  The  following  year  he  moved  to  Braceville.  Per- 
haps Bro.  Osborne,  "more  than  any  other  man,  prepared  the 
way  for  the  more  complete  ministration  of  the  gospel 
which  was  soon  to  surprise  the  churches,  and  reform  their 
modes  of  speech  and  action.  He  led  on  biblical  investi- 
gations quite  regardless  of  the  dogmata  of  creeds  and 
conventional  forms  of  speech.  He  saw  clearly  the  need 
of  an  extensive  and  thorough  revision  and  correction  of 
the  terms  and  phrases,  hackneyed  and  human,  in  which 
people  were  accustomed  to  talk  of  conversion  and  its  kin- 
dred themes,  and  the  substitution  for  them  of  the  more 
appropriate  and  divinely  authorized  language  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  In  all  this  he  was  only  abreast,  scarcely  ahead,  of 
many  others.  At  the  request  of  Bro.  Bentley,  he  removed 
to  Warren  early  in  1827,  an<^  taught  the  academy  for  a 
year,  still  preaching  as  his  health  would  permit.  He  was 
always  present  at  the  association  and  ministers'  meetings, 
and  on  all  occasions  took  a  part  more  prominent  and  in- 
fluential than  is  usually  assigned  to  one  so  young  and  un- 
assuming. For  his  talent,  erudition,  and  zeal,  he  stood 
up  as  a  Barnabas,  and  all  heard  him  with  delight. 

His  health  gave  way,  and  in  May,  1829,  this  young,  in- 
fluential, talented,  beloved,  Christian  gentleman,  admir- 
able in  all  things,  in  many  things  a  model,  fell  asleep. 
His  disease  was  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs.  He  was  only 
in  his  twenty-ninth  year.    He  died  in  Warren. 


142  EARLY   HISTORY   OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  CHURCH  IN  WINDHAM. 

HE  church  in  Windham  was  formed  Tuesday, 


eleven  members  of  the  Braceville  church  requested, 
and  obtained  dismissal,  to  join  in  the  new  church. 
They  came  together  under  the  wise  counsels  of  Elder 
Thomas  Campbell. 

They  numbered  twenty-eight.  Brethren  Samuel 
Robbins,  Philander  Robbins,  and  David  T.  Robbins, 
with  their  families,  Dr.  Thomas  Wright,  and  Bro. 
Streator,  were  leading  members.  David  Woolcott, 
and  Samuel  Robbins  were  the  deacons.  Reuben 
Ferguson  was  unanimously  chosen  overseer. 

The  beginning  and  progress  of  the  work  which  led 
to  the  establishment  of  the  churches  in  Braceville 
and  Windham  is  well  told  in  the  diary  of  Bro.  Sam- 
uel Robbins,  of  Windham.  I  append  some  extracts 
from  it. 

Lord's  day,  Sept.  16,  1827.  Mr.  Walter  Scott  preached 
in  the  school-house,  at  the  center  of  Braceville,  the  first 
time ;  sent  by  the  Mahoning  Baptist  Association,  by  the 
request  of  the  Garrettsville  and  Braceville  Baptist  churches. 
Text:  1st  Epistle  of  John,  chap,  iii :  1st  verse.  A  good 
discourse. 

Nov.  25,  1827.  Deacon  Bosworth  preached  at  the  cen- 
ter of  Braceville,  the  first  t:me. 

Dec.  2,  1827.  Mr.  Adamson  Bentley  and  Walter  Scott 
preached  in  the  school-house  on  Braceville  Ridge.  Mr. 
Bentley  preached  first  to  a  house  jammed  full — got  them 


On  the  Lord's  day  preceding, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


143 


most  all  asleep — do  not  recollect  his  subject.  Then  Mr. 
Walter  Scott  preached,  after  reading  the  second  chapter 
of  Acts.  Dwelt  particularly  on  apostle  Peter  using  the 
keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  delivered  to  him  by  the 
Savior,  Matt,  xvi:  19.  Before  he  finished  his  discourse, 
a  good  part  of  the  congregation  were  standing  up  gazing 
at  the  speaker.  In  his  remarks  respecting  Peter  opening 
the  kingdom  to  the  Gentiles,  at  the  house  of  Cornelius,  he 
said  :  "Having  no  more  use  for  the  keys,  for  aught  I  know, 
he  threw  them  away." 

Dec.  23,  1827.  Mr.  Osborne  preached  on  the  Brace- 
ville  Ridge.  He  was  a  good  preacher,  and  a  very  devo- 
ted minister. 

Jan.  26,  1828.  All  the  Baptist  [church]  went  from 
Braceville  Ridge  to  Warren,  to  hear  Walter  Scott  preach  ; 
for  they  heard  he  was  turning  the  world  upside  down. 

Feb.  23,  1828.  Walter  Scott  preached  on  Braceville 
Ridge.  First-rate  attention  j  do  not  remember  his  subject. 
His  main  object  was  to  convince  the  people  that  God  meant 
what  he  said  in  his  Word,  which  caused  great  excitement 
among  the  people  in  Braceville  and  Windham ;  many  sit- 
ting up  all  night  reading  the  Scriptures  to  see  if  they  meant 
what  they  said;  which  resulted  in  many  immersions.  It 
was  a  common  practice  for  him  to  illustrate  the  five  items — 
viz :  Faith,  Repentance,  Baptism,  Remission  of  Sins,  and 
the  Holy  Spirit — by  holding  up  his  left  hand  and  using  his 
thumb  for  Faith,  and  so  on ;  then  contrast  it  with  the  five 
points  of  Calvinism;  and  thus  he  made  the  Scripture  or- 
der of  the  gospel  so  plain,  that  little  boys  could  carry  it 
home.    Great  excitement  wherever  he  went. 

Feb.  23,  1828.  Went  from  the  Ridge  to  Windham. 
In  the  evening  he  spoke  in  the  school-room,  near  Dr. 
Thomas  Wright's.  Father  Rudolph  and  his  two  sons,  John 
and  Zeb,  were  present.  Spoke  first-rate.  Remarked  he 
was  like  an  eight-day  clock — he  would  speak  on  Faith, 
Repentance,  Baptism,  Remission  of  Sins,  and  the  gift  of 


H4 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  Holy  Spirit,  and  wind  up  !  Having  a  desire  to  hear 
him  through,  David  T.  Robbins  and  myself  went  with  Mr. 
Scott  to  the  hospitable  families  of  the  Rudolphs ;  staid  all 
night. 

Next  day,  February  24,  Lord's  day,  we  all  met  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Chapin,  who  was  a  Methodist.  Mr.  Scott 
spoke  on  faith  to  a  room  crowded  full.  Dr.  Thomas 
Wright,  myself,  D.  T.  Robbins  and  others,  came  forward, 
which  excited  Mr.  Chapin  so  he  got  up  and  opposed.  In 
the  evening  met  at  Mr.  Rudolph's  :  a  good  meeting. 

Feb.  25,  1828.  Scott  preached  in  the  school-house  in 
Garrettsville — more  came  forward.  Agreed  to  meet  the 
next  Wednesday  in  the  school-house  near  Dr.  Wright's, 
when  Scott  would  preach  and  immerse  the  candidates. 

On  Wednesday,  the  27th,  almost  the  whole  town  came 
out.  Bro.  Scott  spoke  feelingly.  Then  Dr.  Thomas 
Wright,  myself,  David  T.  Robbins  and  others,  nine  in  all, 
were  immersed.  Ice  a  foot  thick.  Great  excitement 
among  the  people,  it  being  the  first  immersion  in  Wind- 
ham. Very  cold  ;  though  our  hearts  were  warm  and  re- 
joicing. 

Tuesday,  March  4,  1828.  Scott  again  at  the  same  place ; 
immersed  three  more. 

March  5,  1828.  Preached  again;  baptized  Father 
Abraham  Seymour  and  three  others. 

March  10,  1828.  Scott  went  to  Braceville.  Preached 
and  baptized  Philander  Robbins  and  eight  others. 

Wednesday i  March  12,  1828.  Bro.  Marcus  Bosworth 
preached  and  baptized  three  more  at  the  same  place.  Bro. 
Scott  went  home,  to  Canfield. 

Saturday,  March  22,  1828.  Covenant  meeting.  It  was 
the  custom  of  the  Baptists  in  those  days  to  tell  their  ex- 
perience, to  maintain  good  fellowship  with  one  another, 
and  to  be  prepared  to  break  the  loaf  on  the  Lord's  day. 

Lord's  day,  March  23,  1828.  We  all  met  in  the  school- 
house  on  Braceville  Ridge.    Bro.  Marcus  Bosworth  preached 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


145 


and  broke  bread  the  first  time  after  the  preaching  of  bap- 
tism for  the  remission  of  sins.    Joyful  meeting. 

March  26,  1828.  Bro.  M.  Bosworth  preached — im- 
mersed one ;  next  day,  in  Braceville,  two  more,  between 
eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  night. 

The  diary  continues,  noting  meetings  in  detail, 
with  additions  at  nearly  every  discourse  of  two  or 
three  to  ten  persons  : 

"Lord's  day,  April  27,  1828.  Bro.  Bosworth  preached 
and  immersed  seven  more,  who  were  added  to  Braceville 
church.  Bro.  Bosworth  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
the  second  time;  glorious  meeting." 

Old  customs  are  slow  to  yield.  Monthly  com- 
munion was  still  retained. 

Elder  Thomas  Campbell  came  about  this  time  to 
the  Western  Reserve  to  co-operate  in  the  work.  His 
visit  is  thus  referred  to  in  Bro.  Robbin's  journal : 

"May  1,  1828.  Father  Thomas  Campbell  preached  in 
Braceville,  and  the  next  day  near  Dr.  Wright's.  One  im- 
mersed by  Bro.  Bosworth." 

"May  8,  1828.  Father  Thomas  Campbell  preached  in 
Windham.  Baptized  Bro.  Reuben  Ferguson  and  Bro. 
Baldwin,  of  Charleston.  Same  day,  Bro.  Bosworth  im- 
mersed two." 

"May  9,  1828.  Father  Thomas  Campbell  preached  on 
Braceville  Ridge  from  Hebrews ;  subject :  Land  of  Ca- 
naan." 

"May  17,  1828.  I  went  to  Warren.  Met  with  them  on 
Lord's  day.  Up  to  this  date,  one  hundred  and  thirty  had 
been  immersed  in  Warren;  one  hundred  and  five  added 
to  the  church." 

"Lord* s  day,  May  25,  1828.   Bro.  M.  Bosworth  preached 
on  the  Ridge.    Seven  united  to  Braceville  church.  He 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper  the  third  time." 
13 


I46  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

In  this  manner  the  work  went  on  through  all  that 
region,  extending  into  Nelson,  Freedom,  Charleston, 
Hiram,  Mantua,  and  Shalersville. 

The  church  in  Windham,  like  those  in  Braceville, 
Garrettsville,  and  Warren,  was  in  transition.  Expir- 
ing customs  die  hard.  The  "  experience  "  and  "  cov- 
enant "  meetings  and  monthly  communion  seasons, 
as  occasions  of  special  "  fellowship,"  lingered  for  al- 
most a  year  in  Windham  and  Braceville.  Robbins 
writes : 

"March  22,  1829.  Commenced  breaking  bread  every 
first  day  of  the  week.  Fourteen  added  to  the  church, 
making  in  all  sixty-five  members." 

A  wise  forbearance  ruled  the  church,  and  they 
eventually  all  came  to  the  unity  of  the  faith  and  prac- 
tice of  the  apostolic  order. 

For  many  years  this  church  was  a  shining  light. 
They  built  a  good  house  at  the  center  of  the  town, 
and  continued  there  to  worship  as  late  as  about  the 
year  1855,  when,  weakened  by  removals  and  other 
causes,  they  yielded  the  ground  and  ceased  to  meet 
as  a  church.  But  their  works  remain.  While  with 
sadness  they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  organiza- 
tion, they  count  with  joy  on  the  good  they  achieved  ; 
and  other  regions  are  made  strong  by  the  causes 
which  entailed  weakness  on  the  church  in  Windham. 

This  church  raised  up  and  sent  forth-  two  able  evan- 
gelists, Bro.  L.  P.  Streator,  long  prominent  and  use- 
ful, especially  in  Pennsylvania  ;  and  Bro.  Myron  J. 
Streator,  whose  abundant  labors  will  never  be  forgot- 
ten. Both  arose  in  Windham,  and  by  this  church  re- 
ceived their  first  encouragement  and  sanction  as 
preachers  of  the  gospel. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


H7 


Elder  Thomas  Campbell's  Visit. 

It  is  difficult,  after  the  lapse  of  forty-five  years,  to 
realize  the  commotion  consequent  on  the  first  work 
of  Scott  and  his  associates.  So  novel,  so  bold,  and 
to  the  candid  listeners,  so  plain  and  scriptural!  The 
euthusiasm  was  unbounded.  The  "  zeal,"  though 
usually  guided  by  knowledge,  sometimes  overstepped 
the  limits  of  prudence  ;  yet  it  is  surprising  so  few 
errors  became  incorporated  in  the  teaching,  and  that 
the  work  was  marred  by  so  few  cases  of  indiscretion. 
The  interest  in  the  public  mind  had  swelled  to  a  tor- 
rent, whose  impetuous  rush  bore  away  all  before  it. 

News  of  all  that  was  going  on  was  constantly  trans- 
mitted to  Bethany,  and  Mr.  Campbell,  whose  careful 
and  sagacious  eye  surveyed  the  movement  in  all  di- 
rections with  the  mind  of  a  general,  had  some  fear 
lest  the  impulsive  zeal  of  his  ardent  and  able  friend 
Scott  might,  in  this  quarter,  wreck  the  vessel  of  re- 
formation. At  his  instance,  his  father,  the  venerable 
Thomas  Campbell,  saddled  his  favorite  sorrel,  and 
made  an  extensive  tour  of  these  battle-fields.  He 
visited  first,  New  Lisbon,  then  Fairfield,  Warren, 
Braceville,  Windham,  Mantua,  Mentor,  and  other 
places.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  opportune ; 
just  such  a  man  was  needed  ;  and  none  who  never 
saw  him  can  well  appreciate  the  great  effect  of  the 
presence,  counsels,  and  addresses  of  this  noblest  of 
men.  Uniting  the  simplicity  of  a  child  with  the  dig- 
nity of  a  senator,  agreeable  almost  to  playfulness, 
with  a  piety  so  pure,  sweet,  and  unostentatious  as  to 
command  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all  around 
him,  the  newly  forming  churches  felt  in  his  presence 


148 


EARLY  HISTORV   OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  timely  aid,  encouragement,  and  counsel  which 
could  be  imparted  by  no  other  one  so  well.  His 
fame  and  abilities  as  a  scholar  and  as  a  speaker,  drew 
large  audiences.  Seeing  the  work  before  him  to  be 
but  an  advance  step  in  the  great  plea  of  the  restora- 
tion which  he  had  himself  initiated  and  advocated 
twenty  years  before,  after  examining  the  ground  with 
his  usual  caution  and  candor,  he  gave  to  it  his  full 
sanction,  and  entered  upon  its  advocacy  with  all  his 
great  influence  and  powers.  Soon  after  his  arrival 
on  the  ground,  he  wrote  to  his  son  Alexander  from 
New  Lisbon,  under  date  of  April  9th,  1828,  as  follows  : 

"  I  perceive  that  theory  and  practice  in  religion,  as  well 
as  in  other  things,  are  matters  of  distinct  consideration. 

We  have  spoken  and  published  many  things  cor- 
rectly concerning  the  ancient  gospel — its  simplicity  and 
perfect  adaptation  to  the  present  state  of  mankind,  for  the 
benign  and  gracious  purposes  of  its  immediate  relief  and 
complete  salvation — but  I  must  confess,  that,  in  respect 
of  the  direct  exhibition  and  application  of  it  for  that 
blessed  purpose,  I  am  at  present,  for  the  first  time,  upon 
the  ground  where  the  thing  has  appeared  to  be  practically 
exhibited  to  the  proper  purpose.  1  Compel  them  to  come,' 
saith  the  Lord,  'that  my  house  may  be  filled.' 

"  Mr  Scott  has  made  a  bold  push  to  accomplish  this  ob- 
ject, by  simply  and  boldly  stating  the  ancient  gospel  and 
insisting  upon  it ;  and  then  by  putting  the  question  gen- 
erally and  particularly  to  males  and  females,  old  and 
young :  Will  you  come  to  Christ  and  be  baptized  for  the 
remission  of  your  sins  and  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit? 
Do  n't  you  believe  this  blessed  gospel  ?  Then  come  away, 
etc.,  etc.  This  elicits  a  personal  conversation  ;  some  con- 
fess faith  in  the  testimony— beg  time  to  think  ;  others  con- 
sent—give their  hands  to  be  baptized  as  soon  as  conven- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


149 


ient ;  others  debate  the  matter  friendly ;  some  go  straight 
to  the  water,  be  it  day  or  night ;  and,  upon  the  whole, 
none  appear  offended." 

He  spent  the  month  of  May,  (1828),  in  Braceville, 
Windham,  and  that  region,  adding  strength  and  mem- 
bers to  the  cause,  and  teaching  piety  and  pure  relig- 
ion from  house  to  house.  He  preached  in  Windham, 
Lord's  day,  the  8th  of  May,  and  baptized  Rev.  Reu- 
ben Ferguson,  a  Methodist  preacher  of  great  moral 
worth,  who  began  immediately  to  preach  the  faith  as 
proclaimed  by  the  apostles  at  the  beginning. 

The  travels  of  Elder  Campbell  were  very  extensive, 
and  his  labors  abundant.  He  visited  Chardon,  Ham- 
den,  and  Huntsburg;  the  latter  of  which  were  new  and 
weak  churches.  He  was  among  the  infant  churches 
like  Barnabas  of  the  apostolic  days.  No  record  can 
convey  a  proximate  estimate  of  the  blessings  of  his 
presence  and  labors  at  this  juncture.  There  was 
probably  no  man  within  the  reformation  who  pos- 
sessed such  authority  of  personal  influence  ;  of  noble 
mien  and  manly  form  ;  grave  and  serene  of  counte- 
nance ;  courtly  in  manners,  his  discourses  always  re- 
ligious and  instructive,  he  impressed  his  hearers 
always  favorably  and  permanently.  The  young  dis- 
ciples and  inexperienced  preachers,  who  were  now 
springing  up,  needed  such  a  model ;  and  it  was 
delightful  to  see  the  quiet  and  profound,  deference 
yielded  to  him  wherever  he  came. 

It  was  during  this  period  of  his  travels  on  the  Wes- 
tern Reserve  that  he  fell  in  with  Aylett  Raines.  Bro. 
Raines  may  tell  his  impressions  in  his  own  words : 

"  Not  long  after  this  period  I  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Bro.  Thomas  Campbell.    He  interested  himself  in  m> 


I50  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

favor,  and  had  me  travel  and  preach  with  him  several 
months.  This  I  view  as  a  merciful  interposition  of  my 
Heavenly  Father.  By  day  and  by  night,  publicly  and 
from  house  to  house,  he  was  my  teacher.  I  feel  that  I  was 
greatly  benefited,  but  how  much  I  can  never  tell.  Not 
only  by  word,  but  by  example,  he  deeply  impressed  my 
warm  and  susceptible  heart.  He  was,  emphatically,  a 
godly  man.  He  was  greatly  addicted  to  private  devotions. 
Often  have  I  seen  him,  when  he  had  no  reason  to  believe 
that  any  eye  saw  him  but  that  eye  before  which  all  things 
are  naked  and  open",  in  his  closet,  prostrate  on  his  face, 
pouring  out  his  soul  in  prayer  to  God.  I  thank  God  that 
I  ever  made  the  acquaintance  of  that  great  and  good  man  ; 
and  I  look  forward  with  bright  and  cheering  anticipations 
when  we  may  meet  to  part  no  more,  in  the  brighter  and 
better  world." 

Sketch  of  A.  Raines. 

This  gifted  man,  destined  to  rise  to  a  conspicuous  place 
in  the  advocacy  of  the  gospel,  was  born  near  Fredericks- 
burg, Spottsylvania  County,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1797. 
At  the  age  of  four  years,  he  was  led  up  by  his  father  to 
the  altar,  where  Parson  Boggs  "christened"  him  after 
the  forms  of  the  Episcopal  church.  It  was  done  amidst 
many  tears  from  the  young  "convert,"  but  they  were 
neither  tears  of  joy  nor  penitence,  but  of  fear  and  appre- 
hension of  something  awful  about  to  be  done  to  him,  in 
opposition  to  which  his  whole  nature  was  roused.  But 
his  pious  parents,  in  fulfillment  of  obligations  which  they 
conceived  were  resting  upon  them  from  the  vows  assumed 
at  his  "baptism" — but  which,  with  far  more  truth,  they 
were  under  merely  as  parents-  -trained  him  in  the  princi- 
ples and  paths  of  strict  morality.  The  pious  culture  thus 
obtained,  especially  from  his  most  excellent  Christian 
mother,  was  of  immeasurable  advantage  to  him.  He 
ever  bore  toward  them  the  profoundest  gratitude  for  theii 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


151 


faithful  guardianship.  From  Virginia  his  parents  emi- 
grated, when  he  was  fourteen,  to  Jefferson  County,  Ken- 
tucky. Hearing  different  "orders"  of  preaching,  often 
contradictory,  and  presuming,  as  many  do,  that  the  Bible 
sanctions  all,  he  became  skeptical.  The  reading  of 
Paine' s  Age  of  Reason  filled  him  with  doubt,  and  flushed 
him  with  conceit.  But  his  mother's  pious  instructions 
held  him,  and  finally  gained  the  mastery.  He  went  into 
Indiana,  and  engaged  in  teaching,  near  Fredonia.  His 
employers  being  Restorationists,  he  fell  into  discussions 
with  them.  He  felt  himself  foiled  in  these  contests. 
Winchester's  "  Dialogues  on  Universal  Restoration  "  com- 
pleted the  work,  and  he  came  out  a  thorough  and  sincere 
convert  to  that  speculative  scheme. 

New  emotions  filled  his  breast.  He  obtained  the  com- 
mon "evidence"  of  genuine  conversion.    He  writes: 

"  I  got  religion.  The  sky  appeared  to  be  bluer,  the 
leaves  looked  greener,  and  the  birds  sang  more  sweetly 
than  ever  before.  I  underwent  a  great  moral  change. 
There  was  much  of  the  love  of  God  in  it.  Shrouded  as 
I  was  in  error,  yet  there  were  apertures  through  which  the 
love  of  God  passed  into  my  heart,  and  made  me  inexpress- 
ibly happy." 

Persuaded  that  the  numerous  friends  of  Bro.  Raines 
will  be  delighted  with  his  own  statement  of  his  experi- 
ences, I  continue  the  recital  from  his  own  graphic  pen  : 

"  I  now  commenced  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  in  good 
earnest,  and  after  two  years  commenced  preaching.  This, 
of  course,  provoked  great  opposition,  and  I  had  a  number 
of  debates.  In  these,  one  sectarianism  was  arrayed  against 
another  ;  and  those  that  came  plunging  and  crashing  against 
mine  seemed  so  very  frail,  and  made  so  feeble  a  defense, 
as  rather  to  confirm  me  in  my  errors.  I  preached  Res- 
torationism  five  years.  A  part  of  the  time  I  taught 
school,  but  the  last  two  years  of  the  five  I  traveled  at 
large.    The  expiration  of  this  term  brought  me  to  the 


* 


152  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Western  Reserve,  where  Bro.  Scott  and  others  were 
preaching  the  ancient  gospel.  Hundreds  were  being  bap- 
tized. Much  interest  had  been  awakened  in  behalf  of 
the  gospel,  and  bitter  was  the  opposition  which  had  been 
enlisted  against  it.  Misrepresentations — not  to  use  a 
harsher  term — were  as  numerous  as  blackbirds  in  August, 
and  these  too,  very  often  by  those  who  professed  to  be 
'embassadors  for  Christ,'  and  who  said  they  were  'the 
called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron.'  'Just  say  you  believe,  and 
let  a  preacher  dip  you,  and  there  could  be  no  scriptural 
doubt  of  reaching — no  matter  what  the  life  might  be  sub- 
sequently— the  heavenly  inheritance.'  It  was  strange  to 
me  then,  and  yet  passing  strange,  that  good  people,  when 
under  the  dominion  of  religious  prejudice,  falsify  at  a  most 
alarming  and  extravagant  rate.  They  say  that  they  are 
'new  creatures;'  but  if  they  are,  I  can  not  perceive  that 
the  new  creature  is,  in  this  respect,  any  better  than  the  old  ! 

"After  a  few  weeks  I  concluded  to  hear  Bro.  Scott  for 
myself.  He  was  to  speak  at  night  at  Bro.  Robbins',  in 
the  town  of  Windham,  near  where  I  was  at  that  time  so- 
journing. One  object  that  I  had  in  view  was  to  bring 
Bro.  Scott  into  a  debate;  for  among  other  things  that  I 
had  heard,  I  had  been  told  that  he  was  a  very  bold  man, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  discourses  he  challenged  objectors 
to  make  known  their  objections.  Here,  thought  I,  will  be 
a  good  opportunity  for  me  !  and  hence  I  let  a  number  of 
my  brethren  know  that  I  intended  to  oppose  him.  Well,  we 
assembled,  a  compact  congregation.  Bro.  Scott,  after  sing- 
ing and  prayer,  read  first  Cor.  first  chapter.  He  preached 
it  through,  not  forgetting  to  state  and  defend  what  he 
styled  the  six  points  of  the  gospel.  I  was  greatly  sur- 
prised. But  when  he  called  for  objections  I  was  con- 
founded. I  could  see  the  heads  of  my  brethren  moving 
to  the  right  and  left,  in  the  crowd,  expecting  to  see  me 
rise  to  my  feet.  But  they  didn't  see  me  rise  !  The  reason 
was,  I  felt  certain  that  if  I  opposed  Bro.  Scott  I  would 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


153 


expose  myself.  His  discourse  appeared  to  me,  at  every 
point,  invulnerable.  And  so,  when  we  were  dismissed, 
and  out  in  the  yard,  my  old  brethren  gathered  around  me 
and  asked,  '  Bro.  Raines,  what  do  you  think  of  the  dis- 
course? '  And  let  me  say  here  that  I  think  my  first  an- 
swer will  be  my  last :  1  I  can  do  nothing  against  the  gos- 
pel as  preached  by  Bro.  Scott ;  unless  I  should  live  to  dis- 
grace it ;  which  may  our  gracious  Lord  forbid ! '  Hence 
I  have  no  sympathy  with  those  who  say  they  can  not  un- 
derstand the  preachers  of  the  reformation.  I  understood 
the  first  I  ever  heard  a  great  deal  better  than  I  desired. 

"The  next  day  I  heard  Bro.  Scott  again.  His  subject 
was  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  first  Corinthians — the  resur- 
rection. Here  again  I  was  exceedingly  amazed.  Germs 
of  truth,  and  beauties  and  glories  sprang  from  the  bosom 
of  that  chapter  under  the  handling  of  Bro  Scott,  of 
which  before  I  had  scarcely  any  conception.  '  As  in 
Adam  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive/ 
I  deemed  a  passage  of  cardinal  importance,  and  the  whole 
chapter  very  good  in  its  place  ;  but  as  I  did  not  understand 
it,  of  course  I  saw  none  of  its  beauties,  and  was  superla- 
tively ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  the  scrap  just  referred 
to,  which  was  one  of  the  proof-texts  by  which  I  attempted 
to  prove  the  ultimate  holiness  and  happiness  of  all  men. 
At  the  close  of  this  discourse  I  felt  profoundly  interested 
in  the  ministrations  of  Bro.  Scott,  and  resolved  to  follow 
him  up  for  some  days  longer. 

"  On  the  next  day  his  subject  was  the  two  covenants; 
and  here  again  I  was  amazed,  not  only  in  contemplation 
of  the  beauty  and  magnificence  of  gospel  truth,  but  at  my 
former  ignorance,  for  although  I  had  been  a  preacher  five 
years,  I  certainly  did  not  know  the  difference  between  the 
old  covenant  and  the  new.  I  obtained  from  them  a  sort 
of  hotch-potch;  or  rather  I  made  of  them  a  chaos,  and 
preached  the  darkness  that  was  on  the  face  of  the  deep  ! 

"In  a  few  days  I  heard  again.    His  subject  was  the 


154  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

eleventh  chapter  of  Hebrews.  He  still  bore  himself  aloft 
in  all  the  grandeur  of  the  gospel,  and  in  the  captivating 
intelligence  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Here  I  virtually- 
surrendered — not  that  I  was  convinced  that  all  mer 
would  not  be  finally  saved.  Bro.  Scott  said  nothing  on 
this  subject,  only  that  it  was  a  philosophy,  as  was  Calvin- 
ism, Arminianism,  etc.,  and  no  part  of  Christianity.  He 
convinced  me  that  I  ought  to  lay  my  philosophy  aside, 
and  preach  the  gospel  as  the  apostles  preached,  making 
their  discourses  a  model  to  be  accurately  copied  by  me  in 
all  my  ministrations.  This  was,  so  far,  a  capital  conquest, 
for  it  terminated  in  due  time  in  the  conviction,  in  my 
mind,  that  Restorationism  itself,  as  much  as  I  had  for- 
merly idolized  it,  is  founded  in  error. 

"  At  this  juncture  it  became  necessary  that  I  should 
part  from  Bro.  Scott  for  a  season,  for  I  had  a  tour  of 
preaching  before  me,  and  must  fill  my  own  appointments. 
I  resolved  that  I  would  preach  as  Bro.  Scott  had  done, 
and  as  I  believed  the  apostles  did,  and  that  at  the  close 
of  each  discourse  I  would  call  for  objections.  And  I  told 
my  old  brethren  that  I  threw  myself  on  their  mercy ;  in 
other  words,  that  if  they  believed  me  to  be  going  astray, 
in  mercy  to  set  me  right.  This  attempt  was  often  made 
within  this  tour,  but  it  only  served  to  convince  me  more 
satisfactorily  that  I  was  right.  It  terminated  at  the  house 
of  brother  Ebenezer  Williams,  in  Ravenna,  a  Restorationist 
preacher,  a  good  man,  and  possessing  excellent  talents. 
I  submitted  to  him,  at  his  own  house,  my  views  of  the 
gospel.  He  received  them,  and  we  were  mutually  im- 
mersed for  the  remission  of  sins.  After  this,  I  immedi- 
ately retraced  my  steps,  and  within  five  weeks  I  immersed 
fifty  persons,  three  of  them,  counting  Bro.  Williams,  tal- 
ented Restorationist  preachers."  * 


*  Ebenezer  Williams,  David  Sinclair,  and  Theophilus  Cotton. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


155 


A.  Raines  and  E.  Williams. 

Wishing  to  fortify  himself  thoroughly  on  so  im- 
portant a  matter  as  the  change  in  his  religious  po- 
sition, and  also  desiring  to  keep  clear  his  approaches 
to  his  Restorationist  brethren,  Raines  deferred  his 
baptism  till  he  should  confer  farther  with  their  lead- 
ing men.  He  retraced  his  steps,  preaching  at  points 
formerly  visited,  till  he  came  to  the  residence  of  E. 
Williams,  of  Ravenna,  who  must  now  be  introduced 
to  the  reader. 

Ebenezer  Williams  was  born  in  Warwick,  Hamp- 
shire County,  Mass.,  March  14,  1793.  He  came  to 
Ohio,  in  May,  181 5,  and  settled  in  Ravenna.  Fall- 
ing in  with  the  views  of  Winchester  on  universal 
restoration,  he  prepared  himself  for  a  life  advocacy 
of  that  system.  He  was  calm,  dispassionate,  a  candid 
and  sound  reasoner,  and  very  conscientious,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  advocates  of  that  doctrine  on  the 
Western  Reserve.  He  was  earnest  and  fluent  in 
speech  and  persuaded  many,  and  planted  communi- 
ties of  converts  in  Newburg,  Bedford,  Brimfield, 
Shalersville,  and  elsewhere.  I  will  permit  his  own 
pen  to  relate  the  circumstances  which  led  him  to 
embrace  the  gospel : 

"I  will  give  you  a  fraction  of  my  history  in  Shalersville. 
I  preached  my  first  discourse  there  among  the  Universal- 
ists,  at  the  request  of  Daniel  Burroughs,  Esq.,  who  was 
instrumental  in  getting  the  first  Universalist  preacher  on 
the  Western  Reserve.  In  1828,  I  was  employed  in  that 
town  one-fourth  of  the  time  at  one  hundred  dollars. 

"  On  a  pleasant  morning  in  the  month  of  May,  I  rode 
from  Ravenna  to  meet  my  appointment.    When  I  came 


I56  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

in  sight  of  the  house  I  saw  more  people  than  usual  gath- 
ered around  it.  While  hitching  my  horse,  two  of  my 
friends  came  up  and  informed  me  that  Father  Campbell 
and  Sidney  Rigdon  had  been  holding  a  meeting  there  for 
several  days ;  two  young  men  had  been  baptized ;  the 
meeting  had  created  great  excitement ;  they  had  dwelt 
much  on  the  second  chapter  of  Acts  ;  and  they  requested 
me  to  preach  from  the  same,  especially  the  thirty-eighth 
verse.  I  informed  them  I  would  do  so.  In  my  discourse 
I  opened  to  the  tenth  chapter,  and  found  that  the  Gen- 
tiles received  the  Holy  Ghost  before  baptism,  reasoning 
that  baptism  was  but  voluntary  and  quite  unessential.  I 
offered  the  same  objections  to  an  immersion  in  water  that 
I  have  since  so  often  heard,  indulging  in  some  witticisms 
about  going  to  heaven  by  water,  and  succeeded  in  pleasing 
the  congregation,  except  the  two  young  men  above  referred 
to. 

"While  going  home  I  reviewed  my  discourse.  Al- 
though I  had  spoken  in  all  sincerity,  I  became  quite  dis- 
satisfied with  what  I  had  done.  My  text,  and  the  forty- 
sixth  and  forty-seventh  verses  of  the  last  chapter  of  Luke, 
were  constantly  occupying  my  mind.  I  went  home  quite 
unhappy.  I  was  familiar  enough  with  the  New  Testament 
to  recollect  the  substance  of  what  it  contained,  and  my 
mind  was  constantly  engaged,  day  and  night,  to  satisfy 
myself  that  immersion  could  be  dispensed  with.  I  had 
been  sprinkled — I  had  sprinkled  others,  but  in  spite  of 
all  my  efforts  my  convictions  still  fastened  themselves 
upon  me. 

"  In  the  midst  of  my  perplexity  one  morning,  while  in 
the  field  plowing,  a  child  came  and  informed  me  that 
Bro.  Raines  was  at  the  house.  I  went  in  immediately. 
We  hardly  passed  the  usual  compliments,  when  Bro. 
Raines  said  he  had  been  hearing  Walter  Scott;  that  he 
had  got  into  trouble,  and  wanted  me  to  help  him  out." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


157 


Raines  remained  with  him  several  days,  during 
which  time  they  gave  the  subject  a  thorough  exam- 
ination in  the  light  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The 
result  is  given  in  the  language  of  Bro.  Williams*: 

"The  next  Lord's  day  my  appointment  was  in  Brim- 
field.  Bro.  Raines  went  with  me.  We  both  preached. 
After  meeting,  we  walked  out,  when  he  inquired  of  me 
how  I  had  made  up  my  mind.  I  informed  him  I  should 
be  immersed.  Next  morning  we  notified  the  friends  of 
our  intention,  and  on  our  way  back  to  Ravenna,  we 
stopped  at  Sandy  Lake,  a  beautiful  pond  in  the  corners  of 
Brimfield  and  Rootstown,  and  taking  hold  of  each  other's 
hands,  we  walked  into  the  water.  I  baptized  him ;  he  in 
turn  baptized  me.  I  think  they  were  all  Universalists  who 
witnessed  the  scene.  Some  cried,  some  scolded.  We  ex- 
horted them  to  come  and  do  likewise. 

"When  the  four  weeks  came  round,  I  went  back  to 
Shalersville,  and  again  preached  from  the  second  chapter 
of  Acts,  but  not  so  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people. 
Some  were  angry ;  many  said  they  would  not  pay  their 
subscription  for  such  preaching.  I  told  them  I  did  not 
expect  it — the  Lord  would  take  care  of  me.  Thus  I 
turned  my  back  on  the  four  hundred  a  year.  I  have 
never  since  received  over  half  that  amount,  but  having 
obtained  help  of  God,  I  continue  until  this  day." 

These  brethren  being  now  fully  emancipated  from 
that  useless  and  pernicious  philosophy,  went  every- 
where preaching  the  word.  They  were  anxious  to 
recover  the  communities  which  they  had  instructed 
from  these  errors.  There  is  a  worldly  and  false 
pride  of  consistency,  which  is  but  the  effigy  of  that 
true  principle  of  "  consistency  "  which  is  said  to  be  a 
"jewel,"  a  counterfeit  mistaken  by  many  for  the 
genuine.    Had  Williams  and  Raines  listened  to  the 


158  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

voice  of  that  false  pride,  they  would  never  have  en- 
countered the  reproaches  unsparingly  -heaped  upon 
them  for  changing  their  doctrinal  base.  But  this 
was  their  cross,  and  joyfully  for  Christ  were  they 
willing  to  bear  it. 

The  news  of  their  conversion  spread  every-where, 
causing  much  joy  among  the  Disciples.  But  the  feel- 
ing was  mingled  with  a  fear  that  they  were  not 
thoroughly  instructed  in  the  foundations  of  the  gos- 
pel. It  was  feared  that  they  were,  after  all,  merely 
baptized  Universalists.  If  this  was  all,  it  was  noth- 
ing. Baptized  Universalism  is  Universalism  still ;  not 
the  gospel.  So  baptized  sectarianism,  in  any  form, 
is  but  sectarianism  at  best,  and  not  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ.  This  plea  of  reformation  did  not  be- 
gin nor  end  in  baptism.  It  saw  as  its  end,  and 
sought  nothing  less,  than  the  de-organization  of  sect, 
and  the  re-organization  of  the  saints  on  the  new  cov- 
enant, in  the  express  terms  and  conditions  divinely 
set  forth  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  This  was  clear  as 
a  sunbeam  in  the  preaching  and  writings  of  Scott 
and  the  Campbells,  and  all  who  were  enlisted  in  the 
defense.  No  marvel  then,  that  even  thus  early  in 
our  work,  no  one  could  be  satisfied  with  the  mere 
baptism  of  these  men.  They  wanted  proof  of  their 
abandonment  of  Universalism,  and  their  confession  of 
Christ  and  his  gospel.  They  felt  as  the  disciples  of 
old  concerning  Saul,  of  whose  conversion  and  bap- 
tism report  quickly  spread — "they  were  all  afraid  of 
him,  and  believed  not  that  he  was  a  disciple."  Acts 
ix  :  26.  These  noble  men,  however,  had  learned  and 
embraced  the  gospel  as  the  "  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
vation to  every  one  that  believeth."    Salvation  was 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


159 


now  with  them,  as  with  the  original  preachers, 
through  faith  and  obedience  ;  without  which  impeni- 
tent sinners  are  still  in  their  sins,  and  obnoxious  to 
the  judgments  of  God. 

The  Church  in  Freedom. 

The  first  person  baptized  in  Freedom,  after  the 
primitive  order,  was  Daniel  Brown.  This  was  in 
1828.  Bro.  Bosworth  sowed  the  seed  and  reaped  the 
fruit.  Bro.  Rufus  Ranney  was  the  next.  Then  John 
Bonney,  who  heard  Scott  in  Nelson,  and  was  baptized 
by  him.  This  post  was  held  by  Bro.  Ryder  and  the 
itinerant  laborers  till  1840,  when  they  built  and  or- 
ganized. The  gospel  had  made  inroads  into  Charles- 
ton also,  and  brethren  Woolcut,  Peebles,  and  Baldwin 
associated  with  the  church  at  Freedom.  Daniel 
Brown  and  John  Bonney  were  chosen  overseers,  and 
Lewis  Hamilton,  Joseph  Woolcut,  and  John  James, 
deacons. 

The  church  prospered  for  several  years.  Two 
preachers — O.  E.  Brown  and  J.  W.  James — arose  out 
of  this  church,  who  have  been  many  years  in  the 
work,  and  proved  themselves  extensively  useful.  In 
June,  1848,  they  entertained  the  county  yearly  meet- 
ing ;  their  number  being  about  thirty.  They  after- 
ward rose  to  fifty.  After  about  twelve  years  of  pros- 
perity, dissensions  grew  up,  and  the  tie  of  brother- 
hood was  sundered.  For  several  years  the  religious 
interest  was  nearly  extinct  ;  but  there  were  a  few 
names  "  who  had  not  defiled  their  garments."  The 
work  has  lately  been  revived,  and  meetings  are  again 
held  regularly. 

It  is  interesting  to  state  that  the  first  disciple  in 


l60  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Freedom  still  survives,  and  that  the  first  overseer  is 
elder  still.  Bro.  Daniel  Brown,  who  in  his  eighty- 
sixth  year,  writes  me,  "  I  do  not  expect  to  live 
much  longer,  but  so  long  as  the  Lord  lets  me  live,  I 
am  willing.    When  he  calls  me  I  am  ready  to  go." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


161 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Association  in  Warren,  1828 — Principles  of  Union  Settled — Scott 
and  Hayden  appointed  Evangelists — Biography  of  Hayden — 
Expectation  of  the  Millennium. 

THE  association  for  1828  was  to  meet  in  Warren. 
People  every-where  were  looking  forward  to  it 
with  great  expectations.  The  new  converts,  now 
very  numerous,  were  inspired  with  the  prospect  of  a 
great  spiritual  convocation.  The  friends  of  return 
to  primitive  order  were  flushed  with  the  victories  so 
numerous  and  decisive,  and  prepared  to  enjoy  that 
meeting  as  a  kind  of  triumphant  jubilee;  while  the 
preachers  themselves  were  eager  to  meet  together  in 
mutual  congratulations,  to  make  reports,  and  to  hear 
news  of  the  success  of  the  gospel  from  all  quarters. 
A  few  viewed  the  new  movements  with  fear  and 
trembling,  paused  in  doubt,  and  hoped  that  the 
approaching  association  might  interpose  some  need- 
ful checks,  and  in  some  way  bring  the  whole  work 
more  within  the  principles  and  order  which  were 
still  dear  to  many  of  the  older  members. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  conceal  the  fact  that  the 
writer  of  these  notes  was  in  attendance  from  first  to 
last.  It  will  be  difficult  to  convey  to  the  reader  the 
complex  character  of  that  meeting,  the  important 
questions  which  there  called  for  solution,  and  the 
controlling  guidance  necessary  to  maintain  unanim- 
ity of  feeling,  that  the  work  so  powerfully  progress- 
14 


l62  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


ing  might  still  go  forward.  Men  for  the  crisis  were 
demanded.    Such  men  were  there. 

The  association  came  together  purely  and  simply 
as  an  assembly  of  Christians.  Though  under  the 
forms  and  name  of  a  Baptist  association,  the  creed 
system  was  abandoned,  and  neither  that  denomina- 
tional name,  nor  any  other,  was  on  its  standards. 
Men  of  nearly  all  the  religious  bodies,  many  of  them 
leaders  therein,  leaving  the  technics  of  the  party,  but 
retaining  their  faith,  hope,  and  love,  mingled  to- 
gether as  disciples  of  the  common  Lord  ;  now  in  the 
one  body,  possessing  the  one  spirit,  rejoicing  in  the 
same  hope,  submitting  themselves  to  the  same 
Lord,  through  the  one  faith  and  the  one  baptism, 
they  worshiped  together  the  same  God  and  Father 
of  all  Christian  people.  This  great  occasion  was  a 
grand  demonstration  of  the  possibility  of  the  union 
of  Christians  on  original  Bible  ground.  It  was  no 
longer  a  theory.  It  was  then  an  actual,  accomplished 
fact.  And  though  by  no  means  the  first  such  ex- 
ample in  modern  times,  this  meeting  in  Warren  was, 
perhaps,  the  largest  assembly,  and  the  most  com- 
plete, full,  and  illustrious  example  of  it.  The  history 
of  it  is  a  triumphant  vindication  of  the  principles  of 
the  Campbells  on  this  subject,  a  proof  of  their  prac- 
ticability, and  an  illustration  of  their  power.  Here 
were  Methodists,  no  longer  Methodists,  but  still 
Christians  ;  Baptists  surrendering  the  title,  yet  hold- 
ing the  Head,  even  Christ  ;  Restorationists,  giving 
up  their  fruitless  and  faulty  speculations,  now  obedi- 
ent to  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  ;  Bible 
Christians,  recovered  from  their  negative  gospel  to 
the  apostle's  method  of  preaching,  together  with  very 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE  1 63 

many  from  other  forms  of  religious  belief — all  re- 
joicing together,  "perfectly  united  in  the  same  mind 
and  the  same  judgment." 

Among  the  seniors  were  Thomas  Campbell  and 
his  son  Alexander,  Adamson  Bentley,  and  Sidney 
Rigdon,  with  Walter  Scott,  to  whom  multitudes  of 
the  young  disciples  looked  with  the  affection  of  chil- 
dren to  a  spiritual  father.  Of  the  younger  preachers, 
may  be  named  Jacob  Osborne,  Marcus  Bosworth, 
William  Hayden,  John  Henry,  Symonds  Ryder,  Zeb 
Rudolph,  John  Applegate,  John  Secrest,  A.  G. 
Ewing,  as  also  Aylett  Raines,  the  Cottons,  and 
Reuben  Ferguson. 

So  large  a  number  of  Disciples,  both  of  new  con- 
verts and  of  persons  collected  by  the  appeals  for 
union  from  various  religious  beliefs,  needed  much 
instruction  in  the  principles  of  that  union,  especially 
in  its  practical  workings.  Besides,  the  doubts  and 
disaffections  arising  from  the  introduction  of  Restor- 
ationist  ministers  began  to  break  forth  in  out-of-door 
discussions  touching  the  prudence  of  such  a  loose 
proceeding. 

The  leading  brethren  were  fully  aware  of  all  that 
was  passing.  With  a  correct  discernment  of  the 
situation,  and  a  profound  and  far-seeing  appreciation 
of  the  necessity  for  a  clear  and  scriptural  settlement 
of  the  grounds  of  true  Christian  union,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, who  was  to  deliver  the  introductory  sermon, 
prepared  to  meet  the  case  fairly,  fully,  and  manfully. 
His  sermon  was  founded  on  Rom.  xiv :  i:  "Him 
that  is  weak  in  the  faith  receive  ye,  but  not  to  doubt- 
ful disputations."  He  classified  under  three  heads  all 
subjects  relating  to  the  Christian  religion  : — 


164  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

1st.  Matters  of  knowledge — personal  knowledge; 
2d.  The  things  of  faith,  the  facts  reported  to  us, 
which  we  accept  on  testimony  ; 
3d.  Matters  of  opinion. 

The  distinctions  in  these  three  departments  are 
marked  and  important.  The  profound  and  eloquent 
preacher,  in  a  lucid  and  masterly  manner,  defined 
them,  and  showed  their  application  to  the  present 
divided  state  of  Christendom,  and  illustrated  the 
manner  in  which  these  principles  would  solve  the 
difficult  problem  of  the  union  of  Christians,  and  yet 
disturb  neither  the  faith  nor  the  piety  of  any  one. 

Knowledge,  he  defined  as  one's  own  personal  ex- 
perience. This  term  is  confined  to  the  things  which 
he  himself  sees,  or  hears,  or  discerns,  either  by  his 
senses,  or  his  own  consciousness.  A  person  can  tes- 
tify only  to  the  things  which  he  himself  personally 
knows.  It  was  asserted  that  the  apostles  knew  the 
Lord  Jesus  ;  saw  him,  "  handled "  him,  heard  him, 
and  knew  his  miraculous  works,  and  heard  his  gra- 
cious discourses  ;  so  that  within  their  personal  knowl- 
edge and  consciousness  they  held  the  absolute  cer- 
tainty of  knowledge  of  him — his  character  and  his 
claims  ;  that  they  were  thus  qualified  to  declare  the 
gospel  and  to  be  his  embassadors,  his  apostles,  and 
witnesses  to  the  world ;  that  the  apostles  knew  the 
gospel  to  be  true,  and  none  but  they  stood  on  this 
high  ground  of  knowledge. 

The  subject  of  faith  was  treated  in  an  equally  clear 
and  forcible  style.  Faith  stands  on  testimony.  No 
testimony,  no  faith.  Testimony  is  delivered  by  wit- 
nesses. Christ's  apostles  are  his  witnesses :  "And 
ye  also  shall  bear  witness,  because  ye  have  been 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


165 


with  me  from  the  beginning  ;  John  xv :  27.  "  Ye 
shall  receive  power,  after  that  the  Holy  Spirit  has 
come  upon  you :  and  ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me 
both  in  Jerusalem,  and  in  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and 
unto  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth;"  Acts  i:  8. 
Our  faith  in  Christ  is  founded  on  the  testimony  of 
his  witnesses.  The  apostles,  the  men  of  knowledge, 
testified  or  declared  the  things  which  they  saw  and 
heard  ;  we  receive  their  testimony,  and  thus  we  be- 
lieve. "Faith  comes  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the 
word  of  God  ;  "  Rom.  x  :  17. 

It  was  next  shown  that  as  the  facts  of  the  gospel 
are  always  one  and  invariable,  and  as  the  apostolic 
testimony  or  declaration  of  the  facts  never  varies, 
the  faith  of  all  persons  is  a  unit.  The  important 
conclusion  was  thus  reached,  that  Christians  are  not 
divided  on  the  faith. 

Touching  the  third  division  in  this  classification 
of  knowledge,  faith,  and  opinion,  he  showed  that 
opinion  was  the  fruitful  source  of  all  the  schism 
which  checkers,  disgraces,  and  weakens  the  Christian 
profession  ;  that  creeds  are  but  statements,  with  few 
exceptions,  of  doctrinal  opinion  or  speculative  views 
of  philosophical  or  dogmatic  subjects,  and  tended  to 
confusion,  disunion,  and  weakness  ;  that  as  Christ  re- 
ceives us  in  the  faith,  without  regard  to  questions  of 
doubtful  disputation,  so  we  should  receive  one 
another,  laying  the  basis  of  a  rational  and  permanent 
union  in  the  faith,  in  the  express  matters  of  apostolic 
teaching,  on  which  no  differences  obtain  among  the 
followers  of  Christ. 

So  rational  and  scriptural  a  ground  of  gathering 
into  the  long-desired  unity  the  scattered  sheep  of 


l66  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Christ's  fold,  commended  itself  to  all  his  hearers  as 
both  safe  and  practicable.  But  men  often  approve 
in  theory  what  they  fear  to  trust  in  practice.  So 
with  Mr.  Campbell's  views  of  the  grounds  on  which 
we  were  to  receive  members  into  fellowship.  This, 
though  plausible  in  theory,  was  a  wide  departure  from 
Baptist  principles  of  church-fellowship.  So  likewise 
these  principles  of  apostolic  teaching  would  demolish 
the  narrow,  restrictive  creed  policy  of  all  the  sects 
in  the  land.  It  was  a  bold  position.  It  was  taken 
in  the  face  of  the  embattled  array  of  sect  power.  It 
was  clear,  simple,  sensible.  But  would  it  bear  the 
strain  of  the  practical  tests  to  which  this  plan  might 
be  subjected  ?  So  reasoned  many,  standing  yet  in 
doubt.  A  trial  case  was  at  hand,  a  case  just  in  point, 
which  served  both  to  illustrate  the  principles  of  the 
sermon,  and  to  test  their  power.  Aylett  Raines  was 
present,  willing  to  be  counted  among  the  brethren, 
if  he  could  be  received  as  a  Christian  without  sur- 
rendering his  liberty  in  Christ. 

The  case  was  called  up  Saturday  afternoon  by  the 
careful  and  judicious  Osborne.  Raines,  it  was 
thought,  still  entertained  Restorationist  sentiments. 
If  he  should  in  any  wise  continue  to  advocate  them, 
dissension  and  division  would  follow.  Some  were  for 
rejecting  him,  many  were  in  doubt.  But  the  greater 
number  were  decidedly  and  warmly  in  his  favor. 
Bro.  Osborne  was  impelled  to  the  measure,  less,  it  is 
presumed,  by  his  own  doubts  of  the  propriety  of  re- 
ceiving him,  than  by  the  urgency  of  others  who 
wanted  the  association  to  take  action  in  the  case. 

As  we  have  it  in  our  power,  we  will  gratify  the 
reader  by  giving  Bro.  Raines'  own  recollections  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


167 


this  scene.  In  a  communication  of  April  6,  1868, 
he  says  : 

"I  went  to  that  association  expecting  trouble:  for, 
although  I  did  not  preach  my  Restorationist  opinions,  yet 
I  sometimes  told  such  persons  as  approached  me  becom- 
ingly, that  it  was  still  my  opinion  that  all  men  would,  ul- 
timately, in  some  distant  period  of  eternity,  be  saved. 
Out  of  this  the  trouble  was  to  grow.  But  I  resolved  to 
breast  the  storm.  I  arrived  in  Warren,  Friday  morning. 
At  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  hear,  for  the 
first  time,  A.  Campbell.  He  read  the  fourteenth  chapter 
of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  and  dwelt  extensively  on 
a  passage  in  it,  which,  according  to  his  translation,  reads 
as  follows :  1  Him  that  is  weak  in  the  faith  receive  ye,  but 
without  regard  to  differences  of  opinion.'  On  this  passage 
Bro.  Campbell  dilated  lucidly,  showing  the  difference  be- 
tween faith  and  opinion,  and  between  humanisms,  or  phi- 
losophies, and  the  1  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints.' 
I  felt  very  much  strengthened  and  comforted,  knowing,  if 
my  case  came  up  in  the  association,  I  would  have  at  least 
Bro.  Campbell  on  my  side,  and  if  him,  a  multitude  of  our 
preachers  and  brethren. 

"  After  hearing  the  views  of  Bro.  Campbell  I  thought  it 
probable  that  my  case  would  be  let  alone.  In  this,  how- 
ever, I  mistook.  Next  morning  I  met  Dr.  Wright  on  the 
street,  who  said  to  me  :  'I  understand  that  you  sometimes 
tell  people  that  you  still  believe  that  all  men  will  finally 
become  holy  and  happy.'  *I  do,  sir,'  said  I.  '  What 
then  will  you  do,'  said  he,  i  with  this  passage  :  These  shall 
go  away  into  everlasting  punishment,  but  the  righteous  into 
life  eternal?1  '  I  will  not  do  any  thing  with  it,'  said  I.  1  If 
I  argue  with  you  in  defense  of  my  opinions  I  shall  make 
myself  a  factionist.  But  I  have  as  much  right  to  argue  for 
'  my  opinions  as  you  have  for  yours  ;  and  if  you  get  up  an 
argument  with  me,  be  careful,  you  will  make  yourself  a 


1 68  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

factionist.'  At  this  the  Doctor,  seeing  that  I  was  not  in 
his  trap,  became  excited,  and  said:  'Well,  sir,  I'll  see 
whether  this  association  will  fellowship  men  of  your  views.' 
'See,'  said  I,  'Doctor,  as  soon  as  you  please,  and  I  will 
show  you  that  I  will  have  Thomas  Campbell,  A.  Campbell, 
Walter  Scott,  Bentley,  and  a  number  of  others  on  my  side.' 
He  replied,  'It  is  impossible.'  I  responded,  'Well,  try 
it.'  Accordingly,  not  Dr.  Wright,  but  Bro.  Osborne,  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  very  lugubriously  presented  my  case. 
Bro.  Thomas  Campbell  first  responded,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
recollect,  in  words  following :  '  The  devil  has  brought  this 
question  into  this  association  to  sow  discord  among  breth- 
ren. Bro.  Raines  and  I  have  been  much  together  for  the 
last  several  months,  and  we  have  mutually  unbosomed  our- 
selves to  each  other.  I  am  a  Calvin ist,  and  he  a  Restora- 
tionist ;  and,  although  I  am  a  Calvinist,  I  would  put  my 
right  arm  into  the  fire  and  have  it  burnt  off  before  I  would 
raise  my  hand  against  him.  And  if  I  were  Paul,  I  would 
have  Bro.  Raines  in  preference  to  any  other  young  man  of 
my  acquaintance  to  be  my  Timothy.'  Next,  Bro.  A. 
Campbell  arose,  and  substantially  repeated  what  he  had 
said  in  his  introductory  discourse,  on  the  difference  be- 
tween faith  and  opinion.  Then  Bro.  Scott  arose  and  said 
that  he  concurred  with  the  preceding  speakers,  and  would 
not  have  said  any  thing  on  the  occasion  but  to  give  me  time 
for  reflection.  'I  think,'  said  he,  'that  Bro.  Raines  has 
been  very  badly  treated,  and  I  fear  that  when  he  speaks 
he  will  speak  with  too  much  severity.'  Then  Bro.  Camp- 
bell requested  me  to  stand  upon  a  bench,  *  and  proclaim 
to  the  large  concourse  present,  my  own  views  of  my  obli- 
gations as  a  Christian  and  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 
This  I  did  briefly,  and  in  effect,  as  follows:  That  my 
Restorationism  was  a  philosophy.  That  I  would  neither 
preach  it  nor  contend  for  it,  but  would  preach  the  whole, 


*  The  better  to  be  heard,  the  house  being  very  full. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


169 


gospel,  and  teach  the  whole  truth  of  Christianity  accord- 
*  ing  to- my  best  ability,  etc.,  etc.  Bro.  A.  Campbell  then 
put  the  question :  '  Whether  there  was  any  law  of  Christ 
by  which  I  could  be  condemned  ? '  The  vote  was  in  the 
negative,  and  in  my  favor  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 
This  I  took  to  be  quite  a  triumph ;  but  the  end  was  not 
yet. 

"The  next  morning  I  attended  sunrise  prayer-meet- 
ing. After  the  usual  routine  of  reading,  singing,  and 
prayer,  the  leader  of  the  meeting,  whose  name  I  do  not 
recollect,  arose  and  spoke  as  follows :  i  Brethren,  I  under- 
stand there  are  certain  persons  in  the  fellowship  of  this 
association  who  deny  that  sinners  are  saved  by  grace,  and  say 
that  those  who  die  in  their  sins  will  be  purified  by  hell-fire. 
I  move,'  said  he,  'that  such  persons  be  disfellowshiped.' 
In  a  twinkling  I  was  on  my  feet,  and  said :  '  I  second  that 
motion;  for  by  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith,  and  that 
not  of  yourselves  :  it  is  the  gift  of  God :  not  of  works,  lest 
any  man  should  boast.  Now,'  said  I,  1  if  any  member 
of  this  association  holds  any  doctrine  contradictory  to 
the  teaching  of  this  passage,  I  move  that  he  be  immediately 
disfellowshiped.'  The  old  Brother  who  had  put  the  mo- 
tion, struck  a  direct  line  for  the  door,  and  the  congrega- 
tion followed  him ;  and  there  my  association  troubles  ended. 
Affairs,  however,  would  probably  have  taken  a  very  dif- 
ferent turn,  had  somebody  else  than  myself  seconded  the 
old  man's  motion. 

"I  was  dealt  with,  and  my  case  managed,  by  Bro.  Camp- 
bell and  all  the  chief  brethren  in  very  great  kindness  and 
wisdom.  Had  they  attempted  to  brow-beat  me  I  might 
have  been  ruined  forever.  But  treating  me  kindly,  at  the 
same  time  that  they  convinced  me  that  my  opinion,  whether 
true  or  false,  dwindled  into  nothingness  in  comparison  with 
the  faith  of  the  gospel,  redeemed  me.  I  became  a  day  and 
night  preacher  of  the  gospel,  and  my  mind  becoming  ab- 
sorbed in  this  vast  work,  the  opinion  faded,  and  in  ten  months 
15 


I/O  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


was  numbered  with  all  my  former  errors.    The  Lord  be 
thanked  for  his  great  deliverance.    Bro.  Campbell,  I  ought " 
to  say,  invited  me  to  go  to  Bethany,  and  told  he  thought 
he  could  convince  me  that  my  Restorationist  opinion  was 
false." 

"Note  i. — I  make  a  distinction  between  Restoration- 
ism  and  Universalism.  Opinions  are  only  to  be  tolerated 
when  they  do  not  subvert  obvious  facts  of  the  gospel. 
This  Universalism  does  in  its  teaching  concerning  the  di- 
vinity of  Christ,  atonement,  making  God  the  author,  of 
sin,  denying  the  remission  of  sins,  and  a  judgment,  and 
punishment  after  death.  I  consider  the  system  no  bet- 
ter than  deism. 

"  Note  2. — I  remained  on  the  Reserve  but  a  short  time 
after  the  association.  I  came  to  the  south  part  of  Ohio 
and  preached  in  Dayton,  Cincinnati,  and  many  other  places, 
with  some  success ;  and  finally,  in  Wilmington,  Ohio,  in 
which  place  and  its  vicinity  I  baptized  many  persons.  We 
used  to  make  our  numerous  converts  at  one,  two  and  three 
days'  meetings.  Now  it  often  takes  two  and  three  weeks' 
pounding,  day  and  night,  with  the  hammer  of  the  Word 
to  crack  the  shell  of  worldliness  which  surrounds  the  heart. 
What  shall  be  the  end  ?  'When  the  Son  of  Man  cometh, 
shall  he  find  faith  in  the  earth?  '  A.  R." 

The  reception  of  Raines  delighted  the  great  body 
of  the  young  converts  and  reformers,  whose  feelings 
were  awakened  in  his  favor.  It  was  also  hailed  with 
equal  interest  by  the  older  and  sounder  advocates 
of  the  plea  for  Christian  union  on  Christian  princi- 
ples, as  it  was  a  clear  and  conspicuous  case  in  which 
these  principles  were  strikingly  illustrated.  They 
regarded  it,  therefore,  as  a  marked  victory  for  the  truth. 

A  principal  business  of  this  meeting  was  to  hear  the 
report  of  the  evangelist,  and  to  make  arrangements 
for  future  labors.    We  subjoin  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


171 


Report  of  Walter  Scott,  the  Evangelist  of 
the  Association. 

"  Beloved  Brethren: — The  Christian  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  has  been  permitted  to  witness  the  accom- 
plishment of  wonderful  events.  Providence  has  stationed 
him  on  a  sublime  eminence,  from  which  he  can  behold  the 
fulfillment  of  illustrious  prophecies,  and  look  backward 
upon  nearly  the  whole  train  of  events  leading  to  the  MU- 
lennium. 

"Afar  off,  and  upon  the  background  of  the  picture  be- 
fore him,  of  wonderful  extent,  and  in  all  the  greatness  of 
imperial  ruin,  appear  the  three  great  empires  of  Babylon, 
Persia,  and  Greece.  Nearer  to  hand  lies  Rome;  eternal 
Rome  !  terrible  in  her  origin,  terrible  in  her  glory,  terri- 
ble in  her  decline  and  fall 7  Living  and  acting  through  a 
long  series  of  ages,  she  approaches  the  very  verge  of  the 
present  scene  of  things,  till  she  assumes  the  distracted  form 
of  the  ten  kingdoms  spoken  of  by  Daniel,  the  remains  of 
which  now  reel  to  and  fro  upon  the  face  of  Europe,  like  a 
drunken  man,  ready  to  be  engulphed  in  the  yawning  judg- 
ments of  Almighty  God.    Sic  transit  Gloria  Mundi. 

"But  from  amidst  the  blaze  of  her  glory,  see  yet  loftier 
scenes  arise.  Behold  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus, 
awaking  under  the  eye  of  the  Ccesars  !  Small  in  its  begin- 
ning, it  rolls  forward,  it  survives  all  Roman  greatness; 
and  that  which  was  yonder  a  little  stone,  is  here  become 
a  vast  mountain,  and  fills  the  whole  earth.  The  waters 
which  yonder  issued  from  the  threshold  of  the  Lord's 
house,  have  here  arisen ;  they  have  become  waters  to  swim 
in — a  river  that  can  not  be  passed  over. 

1 '  Here,  too,  are  the  impostures  of  Mahomet  and  the 
Pope,  with  temples  having  the  lowermost  part  consecrated 
to  God,  the  upper  to  the  worship  of  idols.  Arrayed  in 
purple  and  scarlet,  decked  with  gold,  and  precious  stones, 


172  EARLY  HTSTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


and  pearls,  behold  the  apostate  church,  mounted  upon  her 
imperial  beast,  holds  forth  to  the  intoxicated  nations  a 
golden  cup  in  her  hand,  full  of  abomination  and  of  the 
filthiness  of  her  fornication  !  On  her  fair  but  unblush- 
ing forehead  is  inscribed  Mystery,  Babylon  the  Great, 
the  Mother  of  Harlots  and  abominations  of  the  earth.  She 
shall  be  thrown  down  with  the  violence  of  a  millstone 
plunged  into  the  midst  of  the  ocean. 

"Her  portentous  offspring  also  issued  to  mankind  in 
the  mature  age  of  666,  with  the  head  of  a  lamb  and  the 
heart  of  a  dragon :  the  Inquisition  raiseth  itself  on  high, 
with  the  power,  the  delusion  and  cruelty  of  its  parent ;  it 
comes  roving  over  the  earth,  and  causeth  all,  both  small 
and  great,  rich  and  poor,  free  and  bond,  to  receive  a 
mark  in  their  right  hand  or  in  their  forehead ;  and  that 
no  man  might  buy  or  sell,  save  he  that  had  the  mark,  or 
the  name  of  the  beast,  or  the  number  of  his  name. 

"  Here,  also,  is  the  French  Atheism,  filled  with  all  pre- 
sumption, and  magnifying  itself  above  every  god;  he 
speaketh  marvelous  things  against  the  true  God ;  his  hands 
are  filled  with  spears,  and  his  skirts  are  drenched  in  blood  ; 
but  he  shall  come  to  his  end,  says  Daniel,  and  none  shall 
help  him. 

"  All  these  things,  beloved  brethren,  have  passed  in  re- 
view before  the  Christian  of  the  nineteenth  century ;  but 
if  we  have  had  to  witness  schemes  of  policy  and  supersti- 
tion so  wild  and  enthusiastic,  and  apparently  so  unfavora- 
ble to  the  true  religion,  we  have  seen  many  things  intro- 
duced also  highly  conducive  to  its  promulgation  and  recep- 
tion among  mankind.  Above  all,  we  have  seen  the  church 
in  America  seated  down  under  a  gracious  and  efficient 
government,  affording  her  and  all  men  an  unprecedented 
security  of  life  and  property ;  and  if  her  unity  be  still  a 
desideratum,  we  ought  to  remember  that  the  saints,  for 
nearly  three  hundred  years,  have  been  combating  tyranny 
and  superstition  with  astonishing  success,  until  those  who 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


173 


despise  every  name  and  every  phrase,  not  found  in  the 
Scripture,  have  become,  probably,  by  far  the  most  nu- 
merous body  of  professors  in  the  United  States.  But  who 
would  have  thought  it  remained  for  any  so  late  as  1827, 
to  restore  to  the  world  the  manner — the  primitive  manner — 
of  administering  to  mankind  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ !  or  which  of  you,  brethren,  would  have  thought, 
two  years  ago,  of  men  coming  from  forty  to  a  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  to  the  ministers  of  the  Mahoning  churches 
for  baptism !  Yet  these  things  have  actually  occurred  ; 
and  who  can  not  see,  that,  by  the  blessings  of  God,  the 
ancient  gospel  and  ancient  order  of  the  church  must  pre- 
vail to  the  certain  abolition  of  all  those  contumacious  sects 
which  now  so  woefully  afflict  mankind  ? 

"Brethren,  we  have  a  right  to  expect  great  things  of 
our  Father,  if  we  are  united  and  stand  fast,  striving  to- 
gether for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  And  be  it  known  to 
you,  brethren,  that  individuals  eminently  skilled  in  the 
Word  of  God,  the  history  of  the  world,  and  the  progress 
of  human  improvement,  see  reasons  to  expect  great 
changes,  much  greater  than  have  yet  occurred,  and  which 
shall  give  to  political  society  and  to  the  church  a  different, 
a  very  different,  complexion  from  what  many  anticipate. 

"The  Millennium — the  Millennium  described  in  Scrip- 
ture— will  doubtless  be  a  wonder,  a  terrible  wonder 
to  ALL. 

u  The  gospel,  since  last  year,  has  been  preached  with 
great  success  in  Palmyra,  Deerfield,  Randolph,  Shalersville, 
Nelson,  Hiram,  etc.,  etc.,  by  Bros.  Finch,  Hubbard,  Fer- 
guson, Bosworth,  Hayden,  and  others.  Several  new 
churches  have  been  formed ;  and  so  far  as  I  am  enabled  to 
judge,  the  congregations  are  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 
Indeed,  the  preacher  of  the  present  day,  like  the  angel  of 
the  Revelation,  seated  on  the  triumphant  cloud,  has  only 
to  thrust  in  his  sharp  sickle  in  order  to  reap  a  rich  harvest 
of  souls,  and  gather  it  in  unto  eternal  life." 


174  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

The  work  in  Bro.  Scott's  hands  had  prospered  so 
far  beyond  expectation,  that  only  one  feeling  pre- 
vailed on  the  question  of  re-appointing  him.  When 
the  subject  came  up,  some  proposed  that  he  be  al- 
lowed to  travel  where  Providence  opened  "  a  door  of 
faith,"  not  restricting  him  to  associational  limits. 
Others  reasoned  that  there  was  much  work  needed 
in  the  bounds  of  the  association,  and  that,  as  this 
body  is  responsible  for  his  support,  it  had  a  right  to 
his  labors,  and  it  was  its  duty  to  direct  them.  None 
doubted  the  power  or  the  propriety  of  this  body  tak- 
ing the  work  into  its  hands  of  sending  him  out  and 
marking  out  his  field  ;  but  some  thought  it  not  ad- 
visable so  to  tie  his  hands  ;  that  if  he  saw  a  door 
beyond  the  specified  limits,  he  should  not  feel  for- 
bidden to  go  over  into  Macedonia.  Rigdon,  who  had 
taken  no  part  in  this  discussion,  becoming  weary  of 
it,  said  :  "You  are  consuming  too  much  time  on  this 
question.  One  of  the  old  Jerusalem  preachers  would 
start  out  with  his  hunting  shirt  and  moccasins,  and 
convert  half  the  world  while  you  are  discussing  and 
settling  plans !  "  Upon  this,  Bro.  Scott  arose  with  a 
genial  smile,  and  remarked :  "  Brethren,  give  me  my 
Bible,  my  Head,  and  Bro.  William  Hayden,  and  we 
will  go  out  and  convert  the  world."  Then  Rigdon, 
"  I  move  that  we  give  Bro.  Scott  his  Bible,  his  Head, 
and  Bro.  William  Hayden."  It  was  settled  in  a  few 
moments,  as  Rigdon's  resolution  was  seconded  and 
passed  unanimously. 

Bro.  Scott  said  afterward,  that  he  chose  Bro.  Wil- 
liam Hayden  not  because  he  could  preach  better 
than  any  one  else,  but  for  his  powers  of  music  ;  that 
there  was  not  a  man  in  the  association  who  could 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


175 


sing  like  him.  Scott  showed  his  discrimination  in 
this  choice.  People  used  to  come  out  to  their  meet- 
ings on  purpose  to  hear  Hayden  sing.  He  was  full 
of  song  and  full  of  songs — a  ready  one  always  at 
hand,  appropriate  to  the  hearers.  Many  hearts  were 
first  melted  with  music,  and  then  molded  for  Christ 
by  the  gospel.  The  preaching  was  all  the  better,  as 
both  preacher  and  people  were  subdued  in  feeling, 
and  disposed  to  hear  the  tidings  of  salvation  with 
tenderness  of  heart.  The  hymns  he  sang  were  mostly 
set  pieces,  of  great  beauty  and  power,  and  which  he 
"  rendered  "  in  a  style  of  surpassing  brilliancy  and 
force.  On  several  occasions,  when  the  great  name 
and  eloquence  of  Scott  failed  to  batter  down  the  walls 
of  prejudice,  and  to  get  a  hearing,  he  retired  from 
the  audience,  saying :  "  I  '11  send  Willie,  and  he  '11 
sing  you  out! " 

It  would  be  difficult  to  convey  to  the  reader  an 
adequate  conception  of  the  power  of  this  great  meet- 
ing. It  was  notable  for  several  reasons  :  The  ability 
and  number  of  the  preachers  in  attendance  lifted  it 
into  conspicuity  above  any  preceding  occasion.  The 
large  and  enthusiastic  assemblage  of  disciples,  newly 
converted  to  Christ,  or  newly  from  the  thrall  of 
sectarian  shackles,  into  the  "  glorious  liberty  of 
the  sons  of  God" — all  rejoicing  in  the  fresh  views 
of  the  original  gospel,  and  the  proofs  of  its  power  to 
convert  sinners,  seen  in  the  hundreds,  the  fruits  of 
the  recent  proclamation  of  it,  now  here  assembled. 
The  Millennium  seemed  near.  The  songs,  the 
preaching,  and  the  prayers  were  well  flavored  with 
the  ardent  hope  of  it.  No  song  of  praise  or  of  hope 
was  so  popular  as  the  hymn — 


I76  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


"  When  the  King  of  kings  comes, 
When  the  Lord  of  lords  comes, 
We  shall  have  a  joyful  day 

When  the  King  of  kings  comes  : 
To  see  the  nations  broken  down 
And  kingdoms  once  of  great  renown, 
And  saints  now  suffering  wear  the  crown 

When  the  King  of  kings  comes !  " 

A  new  tune  for  it,  composed  by  William  Hayden, 
was  rapidly  caught  by  the  people,  who  swelled  the 
song  like  a  grand  jubilee  chorus. 

Biography  of  William  Hayden. 

William  Hayden  was  born  in  Rosstrevor  Township, 
Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  Lord's  day,  June  30,  1799. 
In  April,  1804,  his  father  moved  to  the  wilds  of  the  new 
State  of  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Youngstown,  where  William, 
the  oldest  of  the  family,  experienced  the  privations  of 
pioneer  life.  Fond  of  reading,  and  having  access  to  few 
books,  he  read  much  in  the  Bible.  He  was,  when  he  was 
young,  perplexed  with  questions  about  the  origin  of 
things,  and  what  shall  be  hereafter.  He  was  a  deist  before  he 
was  twelve;  then  for  awhile  the  gulph  of  atheism  yawned 
before  him.  From  its  frightful  chasm  he  was  rescued  by 
the  reflection,  that  "if  nothing  had  eternally  or  primarily 
existed,  nothing  could  have  been  originated,  and  that  hence 
a  cause  uncaused  was  self-evident. 1 '  He  farther  reflected 
that  to  doubt  the  existence  of  a  Creator  leads  necessarily 
to  a  doubt  of  the  existence  of  the  creature.  For  awhile 
he  tried  the  bold  adventure  of  doubting  his  own  existence. 
This  was  impossible.  His  conclusion,  in  his  own  words 
was,  "there  is  no  sense  in  being  a  fool!"  Cured  now 
of  atheism — for  deism  he  found  another  remedy:  "I 
plainly  saw  that  to  turn  away  from  the  Bible,  we  plunge 
ourselves  into  darkness,  and  our  only  refuge  is  in  our  ig- 
norance."   "Finally,  reading  again  the  narrative  of  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


177 


inhuman  treatment  of  Christ  from  the  garden  to  the  sep- 
ulcher,  and  seeing  how  patiently  and  meekly  he  endured 
it  all,  his  whole  life  passed  in  review  before  my  mind.  I 
was  indignant  that  such  a  person  should  be  so  treated. 
What  harm  had  he  ever  done  them?  The  only  perfect 
character  that  ever  appeared  on  earth ;  a  model  of  good- 
ness, wisdom,  dignity,  condescension,  and  pity — just  such 
a  friend  as  ignorant,  suffering  man  needed — and  to  be  re- 
quited thus  !  Till  now  I  had  never  seen  sin  in  its  hateful- 
ness,  and  I  felt  myself  a  sinner." 

For  four  years  longer,  till  he  was  sixteen,  he  struggled 
in  the  mysteries  of  Calvinism ;  hoping,  if  he  was  one  of 
the  elect,  God  would  impart  the  evidence  of  it  in  a  needed 
and  desired  regeneration.  A  revival  occurring,  he  sought 
the  coveted  relief.  At  last,  he  was  thoroughly  aroused  by 
the  words  of  Jesus,  Matt,  xii :  36,  37:  "I  say  unto  you, 
that  every  idle  word  that  men  shall  speak,  they  shall  give 
account  thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment.  For  by  thy 
words  thou  shalt  be  justified,  and  by  thy  words  thou  shalt 
be  condemned."  He  fled  for  refuge  to  the  hope  of  the 
gospel.  He  was  baptized  May  19,  1816,  by  Elder  Joshua 
Wood  worth,  and  united  with  the  Baptist  church,  of  which 
his  parents  were  members. 

December  20,  181 8,  he  married  Miss  Mary  McCollum, 
and  settled  on  new  lands  in  Austintown.  In  the  midst 
of  his  work  his  zeal  did  not  relax.  When  the  church  in 
Youngstown  ran  down,  he  took  membership  in  Canfield. 
He  studied  the  Scriptures  diligently,  and  was  ready  always 
to  give  a  "reason  for  the  hope  that  was  in  him."  I  quote 
from  his  own  pen  :  "  I  had  heard  some  time  before  of  one 
Alexander  Campbell.  I  had  read  a  sermon  from  his  pen, 
and  now  in  October,  1821,  he  was  to  preach  in  Warren, 
and  I  resolved  to  hear  him.  He  was  then  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  the  sharpest  man  I  ever  saw,  both  in  appear- 
ance and  in  intellect,  and  I  confess  I  was  afraid  he  might 
lead  us  astray.    His  first  sermon  was  from  the  text,  '  Thy 


1^8  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

kingdom  come.'  I  soon  saw  what  he  meant  to  make 
out,  and  I  did  not  mean  to  believe  him  ;  but  I  could  not 
help  believing  him.  He  showed  that  the  kingdom  had 
come.  At  that  meeting,  which  was  for  the  mutual  im- 
provement of  the  preachers,  he  made  several  remarks, 
which  were  new  and  startling,  and  of  infinite  use  to  me. 
He  said  'the  true  disciple  of  Christ  will  follow  the  truth 
wherever  it  leads.'  Upon  a  moment's  reflection,  I  saw 
there  was  no  safety  in  doing  otherwise.  I  resolved  that 
whatever  the  truth  would  make  me,  I  would  endeavor  to 
be.  A  second  was,  'you  will  notice  the  apostles  in 
preaching  the  gospel  never  said  one  word  about  election.' 
I  saw  this  was  true.  But  then  I  thought,  what  is  the  gos- 
pel? I  soon  saw  if  the  gospel  can  be  preached  without 
election,  so  can  it  without  any  of  the  'five  points.'" 

A  person  with  so  tenacious  and  energetic  a  mind  could 
not  abandon  the  cherished  system  of  Calvinism  without  a 
great  struggle.  His  "Christian  experience"  had  to  be 
analyzed,  and  every  impression  and  feeling  traced  to  its 
cause.  But  the  truth  that  faith  comes  by  hearing  the  testi- 
mony of  God  was  revolutionary,  and  he  did  not  rest  till 
it  had  gained  in  his  mind  the  complete  ascendency. 
Every  number  of  the  Christian  Baptist  was  thoroughly 
sifted.  No  wonder,  then,  that  after  seven  years  of  so 
thorough  a  schooling  he  was  ready,  at  the  call  of  the  asso- 
ciation, to  enter  unhesitatingly  into  the  work  of  teaching 
the  true  gospel  to  the  world.  His  own  struggles,  and  his 
complete  mastery  of  his  own  difficulties,  prepared  him  to 
relieve  others  from  similar  doubts  and  scruples. 

In  May,  1828,  the  church  of  Canfield  gave  him  license 
as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  In  October  following,  after 
his  call  to  ride  with  Scott,  he  was  ordained,  in  his  own 
church  of  Austintown,  of  which  he  was  then  a  member 
and  leader,  by  brethren  Scott  and  Bentley. 

From  this  time  his  labors  were  double  those  of  most 
men.    Working  with  his  own  hands  as  much  as  other 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


179 


men,  and  yet  more  in  his  saddle  than  most  preachers. 
For  twenty-five  years  he  was  absent  from  his  own  home  on 
an  average  two  hundred  and  forty  days  and  nights  each 
year.  His  industry  was  proverbial.  He  was  incessant  in 
preaching,  teaching,  and  conversation — in  public  and  in 
private.  He  created  openings — occupied  them,  and  when 
others  could  be  found  to  hold  the  positions,  he  broke  new 
ground.  He  was  the  first  man  and  the  chief  operator  in 
raising  up  the  churches  in  Ravenna,  Aurora,  Shalersville, 
Akron,  Royalton,  Warrensville,  Solon,  and  Russell,  and 
several  others. 

The  following  from  his  pen,  written  near  the  close  of  his 
life,  is  worthy  of  careful  attention : 

"I  perceived  within  six  months  of  the  beginning  of 
my  labors  the  necessity  of  system  in  our  operations,  of 
which  we  had  none — measures  to  call  out  and  prepare 
fit  men  to  preach  and  teach,  and  to  take  care  of  the  con- 
verts— measures  to  insure  a  reasonable  support  for  such 
men — measures  to  secure  harmony  of  action  among  the 
preachers,  and  for  holding  the  ground  already  gained.  I 
spoke  of  all  these  interests  to  all  the  brethren ;  but  there 
was  only  one  man  who  seemed  to  perceive  any  sense  in 
what  I  had  to  say,  and  that  was  Jacob  Osborne,  one  of  the 
most  wise,  prudent,  and  godly  men  we  ever  had  among  us ; 
and  he  died  in  May,  1829.  For  twenty  years  I  urged 
these  things,  but  they  received  no  encouragement.  I  was 
astonished  that  all  could  not  see  the  indispensable  neces- 
sity of  a  matter  so  in  accordance  with  common  sense,  and 
the  demands  of  every-day  experience ;  for  the  want  of 
which  so  many  of  our  churches  are  languishing  almost  to 
dissolution. 

"After  twenty  years  hardship,  toiling  against  wind  and 
tide,  my  brother  A.  S.  Hayden  and  I  resolved  that  we 
would  lay  before  the  brotherhood  the  expediency  of  found- 
ing an  institution  of  learning — the  Eclectic  Institute — at 


l80  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Hiram.  It  took  with  the  people,  and  has  accomplished 
much  in  many  ways. 

"  Isaac  Errett  responded  to  the  appeal  uncompromis- 
ingly to  aid  in  getting  an  association  of  churches  for  the 
purpose  of  missionary  operations  on  the  Western  Reserve. 
Shortly  after,  in  1852,  the  Ohio  State  Missionary  Society 
was  organized.  It  works  well,  and  is  likely  to  live  and 
prosper ;  for  the  brethren  are  forced  to  see,  after  so  long 
a  time,  the  need  of  united  action.  But,  oh  how  much  the 
cause  of  Christ  has  lost !  and  how  many  have  died  igno- 
rant of  the  gospel !  and  how  many  more  will,  for  not  hav- 
ing had  a  good  system  of  management  from  the  com- 
mencement ! 

"But  now  my  labors  are  about  ended,  and  I  am  be- 
ginning to  see  the  brethren  act  like  men  of  common 
sense.  One  whole  generation  has  passed  away,  and  we 
are  not  quite  ready  to  begin  to  act  with  efficiency  in  this 
great  work  of  showing  our  contemporaries  the  true  gospel 
in  contradistinction  from  the  speculations  of  men  about 
the  gospel.  Until  the  true  gospel  is  honored  by  its 
friends,  it  will  not  be  heard  so  as  to  be  understood  ;  and, 
until  it  is  understood,  faith  that  justifies  will  be  supposed 
to  come  by  prayer  and  the  mysterious  work  of  the  Spirit ; 
and  while  that  is  so,  the  evidence  of  prophecy  and  mira- 
cle will  not  be  taught  the  people.  Consequently,  igno- 
rance, unbelief,  division,  and  iniquity  will  abound,  as  it 
is  at  this  day. 

"Xo  man  has  labored  so  wisely  and  so  successfully  as 
Alexander  Campbell,  to  show  the  true  gospel  and  its  evi- 
dences, and  how  men  become  Christians,  since  the  great 
apostasy  commenced  ;  and  almost  no  man  appreciates  his 
labors  !  He  has  left  nothing  to  be  done  by  any  other  re- 
former who  may  come  after  him  ;  and  I  fear  it  will  be 
another  generation  before  those  who  acknowledge  him  a 
reformer  will  organize,  so  as  to  be  as  efficient  as  all  other 
people  are  in  conducting  their  affairs." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  l8l 

His  teaching  on  the  whole  question  of  conversion,  was 
so  clear  and  thorough,  few  who  heard  him  candidly- 
failed  to  see  the  difference  between  the  teaching  of  the 
Scriptures  on  this  important  subject,  and  the  mystic 
theories  of  regeneration  which  bewilder  the  mind  and  per- 
plex the  conscience.  His  converts  were,  therefore,  thor- 
ough and  decided,  like  himself.  One  of  these,  Jewett 
Frost,  of  Richfield,  could  not  rest  till  his  brother  and 
other  friends  in  Riga,  New  York,  should  hear  the  same 
truth.  At  his  instance,  Wm.  Hayden  went  into  that  State 
in  1832,  and  afterward,  alone  or  in  company  with  others, 
he  made  many  and  extensive  trips  in  most  of  the  Western 
counties  of  the  Empire  State,  and  in  Canada,  where  he 
powerfully  proclaimed  the  gospel,  and  rendered  the  most 
efficient  service  in  establishing  the  cause  of  reformation. 
In  western  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  and  in  all  the  region 
of  North-east  Ohio  his  pioneer  labors  laid  the  foundations 
for  others  to  build  upon.  Some  of  his  most  stirring  and 
profitable  tours  were  into  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  ;  so  that 
from  Syracuse  to  the  Mississippi  River,  and  from  Canada 
to  Virginia,  he  "  fully  preached  the  gospel  of  Christ." 

The  following  account  of  him  is  from  the  Millennial 
Harbinger,  to  which  it  was  sent  by  the  writer,  1863,  just 
after  his  death: 

During  his  ministry  of  thirty-five  years  he  traveled 
ninety  thousand  miles,  full  sixty  thousand  of  which  he 
made  on  horseback — that  is,  by  this  mode  of  travel — 
a  distance  of  more  than  twice  around  the  world  !  The 
baptisms  by  his  own  hands  were  twelve  hundred  and 
seven.  He  preached  over  nine  thousand  sermons,  that  is, 
over  two  hundred  and  sixty  one  discourses  per  annum  for 
every  year  of  the  thirty-five  years  of  his  public  life.  He 
once  preached  over  fifty  sermons  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber alone.  Besides  all  these  pulpit  services,  his  private 
labors  were  abundant  and  incessant.  He  had  a  peculiar 
turn  for  winning  attention,  and  imparting  instruction  in 


1 82  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  social  circle,  mingling  the  humor  that  charms  with 
the  experience  which  teaches.  Few  could  relish  or  relate 
an  anecdote  better,  or  apply  one  more  appropriately  for 
purposes  of  illustration.  Yet  he  never  indulged  in  re- 
citals of  any  in  which  the  adorable  Name,  or  any  of  the 
titles  of  the  Most  High,  were  even  playfully,  much  less 
irreverently,  introduced ;  a  practice  against  which  he  bore 
frequent  and  forcible  testimony. 

His  mental  powers  were  most  rapid  and  energetic  in 
action.  His  method  of  reasoning  tended  to  generaliza- 
tion, embracing  a  great  variety  of  subject  and  method. 
Though  not  educated,  in  a  scholastic  sense,  his  taste,  dis- 
cernment, and  industry  very  fully  supplied  this  deficiency, 
and  stored  his  mind  with  much  general  information  and 
critical  historical  learning.  The  master  quality  of  his 
mind  was  his  almost  matchless  memory — memory,  both 
of  history  and  chronology.  He  made  no  memoranda  of 
his  sermons,  yet  he  could  report  at  any  time,  promptly  and 
accurately,  the  number  of  his  discourses,  baptisms,  and 
multitudes  of  incidents,  and  all  without  pen  or  pencil  to 
aid  him.  It  were  vanity,  perhaps,  to  assign  him  a  place 
in  this  respect  with  Macaulay  or  Johnson  ;  but  all  who 
knew  him  wondered  at  his  power — a  power  which  was  at 
his  command,  with  undiminished  force,  up  to  the  hour  of 
his  death.  In  his  character  were  chiefly  discernible  firm- 
ness, decision,  boldness  in  enterprise,  and  sturdy  honesty. 
He  was  eminently  social  and  hospitable,  compassionate 
and  kind-hearted.  His  religion  was  conscience  and  rev- 
erence; his  humanity,  a  tender  and  systematic  benevo- 
lence. He  gave  freely  for  humane,  religious,  and  educa- 
tional objects. 

More  than  a  year  previous  to  his  death,  he  was  afflicted 
with  a  gradual  weakening  of  the  muscles,  which  pervaded 
the  whole  system,  affecting  his  speech  in  common  with 
every  other  muscular  action.  Without  pain,  and  with  the 
full  exercise  of  his  mental  powers,  he  died  at  his  home, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  1 83 

at  Chagrin  Falls,  easily  and  tranquilly,  in  full  nope  of 
immortality,  April  7,  1863,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  his 
age. 

Expectation  of  the  Millennium. 

The  ardor  of  religious  awakening  resulting  from 
the  new  discoveries  in  the  gospel  was  very  much  in- 
creased about  the  year  1830,  by  the  hope  that  the 
millennium  had  now  dawned,  and  that  the  long  ex- 
pected day  of  gospel  glory  would  very  soon  be  ushered 
in.  The  restoration  of  the  ancient  gospel  was  looked 
upon  as  the  initiatory  movement,  which,  it  was 
thought,  would  spread  so  rapidly  that  existing  denom- 
inations would  almost  immediately  be  deorganized ; 
that  the  true  people,  of  whom  it  was  believed  Christ 
had  a  remnant  among  the  sects,  would  at  once,  on  the 
presentation  of  these  evidently  scriptural  views,  em- 
brace them,  and  thus  form  the  union  of  Christians  so 
long  prayed  for ;  and  so  would  be  established  the 
Kingdom  of  Jesus  in  form,  as  well  as  in  fact,  on  its 
New  Testament  basis.  All  the  powers  in  array  against 
this  newly  established  kingdom,  whether  in  the 
churches  of  Protestantism  or  Romanism,  would  soon 
surrender  at  the  demand  of  the  King  of  kings. 

The  prospect  was  a  glorious  one,  springing  very 
naturally  from  the  discovery  of  the  complete  adapta- 
tion of  the  gospel  to  the  ends  for  which  it  was  given. 
This  hope  of  the  millennial  glory  was  based  on  many 
passages  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  All  such  scrip- 
tures as  spoke  of  the  "  ransomed  of  the  Lord  return- 
ing to  Zion,  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon 
their  heads  :  that  they  should  obtain  joy  and  glad- 
ness, and  that  sorrow  and  sighing  should  flee  away," 
(Isa.  xxxv  :  10,)  were  confidently  expected  to  be  liter- 


1 84  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ally  and  almost  immediately  fulfilled.  These  glowing 
expectations  formed  the  staple  of  many  sermons. 
They  were  the  continued  and  exhaustless  topic  of 
conversations.  They  animated  the  hope,  and  inspired 
the  zeal,  to  a  high  degree,  of  the  converts,  and  many 
of  the  advocates  of  the  gospel.  Millennial  hymns  were 
learned  and  sung  with  a  joyful  fervor  and  hope  sur- 
passing the  conception  of  worldly  and  carnal  pro- 
fessors. One  of  these  hymns,  better  in  its  hope  than 
poetic  merit,  opened  as  follows : 

"  The  time  is  soon  coming  by  the  prophets  foretold, 
When  Zion  in  purity  the  world  will  behold, 
For  Jesus'  pure  testimony  will  gain  the  day, 
Denominations,  selfishness  will  vanish  away." 

The  Scriptures,  especially  the  prophetic  writings, 
were  studied  with  unremitting  diligence  and  profound 
attention.  It  is  surprising  even  now,  as  memory  re- 
turns to  gather  up  these  interesting  remains  of  that 
mighty  work,  to  recall  the  thorough  and  extensive 
Bible  knowledge  which  the  converts  quickly  obtained. 
Nebuchadnezzar's  vision  of  the  four  great  monarchies, 
with  the  accompanying  vision  of  the  kingdom  of  the 
stone  (Dan'l  ii)  and  the  visions  of  that  prophet 
himself  (chapters  7  and  8),  became  generally  familiar, 
and  were,  in  the  main,  it  is  presumed,  correctly  un- 
derstood. Many  portions  of  the  Revelation  were  so 
thoroughly  studied  that  they  became  the  staple  of  the 
common  thought.  The  *  two  witnesses,"  their  slaugh- 
ter, their  resurrection  after  three  and  a  half  days  ; 
their  ascent  in  clouds  to  heaven  in  the  sight  of  their 
enemies  ;  the  woman  that  fled  into  the  desert  from 
the  flood  of  persecution  poured  out  to  engulf  her  ; 
her  abode  and  nourishment  there  for  a  "time,  times 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  1 85 

and  the  dividing  of  time  ; "  her  blissful  return  from 
her  wildnerness  retreat,  and  the  prophetic  acclaim  : 
"  Who  is  this  that  comes  from  the  wilderness  lean- 
ing on  the  arm  of  her  beloved,  fair  as  the  sun,  clear 
as  the  moon,  and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners?" 
all  these  and  many  others  constituted  a  novel  and 
voluminous  addition  to  the  stinted  Bible  knowledge 
and  the  stereotyped  style  of  sermonizing  which  then 
prevailed. 

Some  of  the  leaders  in  these  new  discoveries,  ad- 
vancing less  cautiously  as  the  ardor  of  discovery  in- 
creased, began  to  form  theories  of  the  millennium. 
The  fourteenth  chapter  of  Zechariah  was  brought  for- 
ward in  proof — all  considered  as  literal — that  the  most 
marvelous  and  stupendous  physical  and  climatic 
changes  were  to  be  wrought  in  Palestine  ;  and  that 
Jesus  Christ  the  Messiah  was  to  reign  literally  "  in 
Jerusalem  and  in  Mt.  Zion,  and  before  his  ancients, 
gloriously."  The  glory  and  splendors  of  that  august 
millennial  kingdom  were  to  surpass  all  vision,  as  the 
light  of  the  moon  was  to  be  made  equal  to  the  light 
of  the  sun,  and  the  light  of  the  sun  would  be  aug- 
mented "  sevenfold."  William  Hayden  went  to  New 
Lisbon  to  fill  an  appointment.  Calling  at  Bro. 
Jacob  Campbell's,  we  found  Bro.  Scott.  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell was  a  Christian  lady  of  much  brilliancy  of  talent, 
and  intelligent  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Salutations 
over,  she  broke  forth  in  an  animated  strain  :  "  Bro. 
Scott  and  I  have  just  been  contemplating  how  joy- 
ful it  will  be  in  the  millennium — mortals  and  immor- 
tals dwelling  together  !  "  Bro.  Scott  then,  with  great 
fluency,  discanted  upon  the  prophecies  of  Jeremiah 
and  Ezekiel,  relating  to  the  return  of  the  Jews  and 
16 


1 86  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

their  re-establishment  in  the  Holy  Land,  the  coming 
of  the  Lord,  the  resurrection  of  the  saints,  and  the 
gathering  together  unto  him  on  the  Mount  of  Olives. 
Scott  had  a  vein  of  enthusiasm,  to  which  these  mil- 
lennial prospects  were  very  congenial.  He  was  led  on 
in  the  brilliant  expectations  by  the  writings  of  Elias 
Smith,  of  New  England,  whose  works  had  fallen  into 
his  hands.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Richardson,  written  in 
New  Lisbon,  April,  1830,  he  says  the  book  of  Elias 
Smith,  on  the  prophecies,  is  the  only  sensible  work  on 
that  subject  he  had  seen.  He  thinks  this  and  Croly  on 
the  Apocalypse  all  the  student  of  the  Bible  wants. 
He  strongly  commends  Smith's  book  to  the  Doctor. 
This  seems  to  be  the  origin  of  millennial  views  among 
us.  Rigdon,  who  always  caught  and  proclaimed  the 
last  word  that  fell  from  the  lips  of  Scott  or  Campbell, 
seized  these  views,  and  with  the  wildness  of  his  ex- 
travagant nature,  heralded  them  every-where. 

These  hopes  were  much  confirmed  and  increased 
by  the  publication,  about  this  time,  of  "  Begg  on  the 
Prophecies,"  a  small,  but  vigorous  and  confident  work, 
excessively  literal,  by  James  Begg,  of  Paisley,  Scotland. 
A  cheap  edition  of  it  was  brought  out  by  the  author's 
brother,  William  Begg,  a  recent  convert  from  the 
Presbyterians.  The  announcement  and  favorable 
notice  of  this  work  in  the  "  Millennial  Harbinger," 
together  with  the  taste  for  such  reading  now  preva- 
lent, introduced  this  book  widely,  and  it  became  a 
powerful  auxiliary  of  the  doctrines  and  aided  to  crys- 
tallize them  into  definite  theory.  About  the  same 
time  appeared  the  essays  on  the  millennium,  by 
S.  M.  McCorkle,  a  "sturdy  layman."  His  trum- 
pet blew  no  uncertain  sound.    Its  blast  was  fierce 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


I87 


and  fiery  as  the  noise  of  the  ram's  horns  around  the 
walls  of  Jericho.  His  essays,  which  were  published 
in  the  "  Millennial  Harbinger,"  produced  a  wonderful 
effect.  Many  thought  the  day  of  the  Lord  just  at 
hand.  They  prayed  for  it,  looked  for  it,  sung  of  it. 
The  set  time  to  favor  Zion  had  come.  The  day  of  re- 
demption was  near.  It  only  awaited  the  complete  pu- 
rification of  his  church — which  meant  the  removal  of 
sects  and  the  union  of  Christians  on  the  "  Bible  alone." 
Preaching  against  "  sectarianism "  was  now  more 
frequent  and  vehement.  The  legitimate  and  needed 
work  of  preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  of  cor- 
recting the  errors  which  lie  directly  in  its  way  and 
impede  its  progress,  was  not  abandoned,  but  more 
attention  was  now  bestowed  on  the  task,  assumed  as 
necessary,  of  clearing  off  the  whole  body  of  sectari- 
anism. "  Cast  ye  up,  cast  ye  up,  prepare  the  way, 
take  up  the  stumbling-block  out  of  the  way  of  my 
people."  Isa.  lvii :  14.  This  was  the  text  of  many  a 
sermon.  The  sects,  it  was  assumed,  are  the  stum- 
bling-blocks in  the  way  of  the  chariot  of  the  coming 
king.  This  assault  on  the  denominationalism  of  the 
times,  by  which  Christians  are  separated  from  one 
another,  is  so  nearly  in  line  with  the  true  work  of  the 
restoration  of  primitive  Christianity,  that  this  mis- 
take of  its  purpose  was  very  easy.  Yet  the  difference 
is  neither  small  nor  unimportant.  It  is  one  thing  to 
introduce  light  into  an  apartment,  and  thus  remove 
the  darkness,  and  quite  another  to  attack  the  dark- 
ness hoping  to  remove  it  and  thus  make  way  for  the 
light.  This  reformation,  so  called,  is  not  a  negation — 
a  mere  protest  against  sectarianism.  This  is  not 
its  prime,  or  originating  impulse.    It  is  a  plea  for  the 


1 88  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Christian  religion  as  a  whole.  Its  defenses  are  de- 
fenses of  Christ,  of  his  apostles,  of  their  authority, 
their  claims  and  their  teachings,  as  set  forth  in  the 
volume  of  inspiration.  If  obstacles  are  in  its  way, 
it  seeks  their  removal,  whether  they  be  Protestant, 
Romanish,  Jewish,  or  Mohammedan.  But  these  are 
resultant  and  consequential  to  its  primary  and  direct 
aim,  and  not  for  a  moment  to  be  confounded  with  it. 

Many  sagacious  brethren  perceived  with  regret 
the  new  turn  things  were  taking,  and  rightly  judg- 
ing that  these  Millennial  theories  would  not  tend  to 
develop  the  work  so  auspiciously  begun,  but  rather 
divert  the  minds  of  the  people  from  it,  they  began 
prudently  and  cautiously  to  correct  the  aberration, 
and  draw  attention  away  from  untaught  questions  and 
visionary  anticipations  of  the  future  to  the  real  pur- 
poses of  the  work  of  Christ  now  on  hand,  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel  for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  and 
building  up  of  the  saints  on  the  most  holy  faith. 
Some  supposed  Mr.  Campbell  to  be  in  sympathy  with 
these  views  ;  and,  indeed,  some  plausibility  was  lent 
to  this  opinion  by  the  title  of  his  new  periodical, 
"  The  Millennial  Harbinger." 

Mr.  Campbell,  whose  eye  was  fully  open  to  all,  was 
not  slow  to  perceive  all  this,  and  he  felt  called  to  un- 
dertake the  needed  correction.  He  commenced,  in 
the  "Millennial  Harbinger,"  for  Sept.,  1834,  a  series 
of  articles  under  the  title  of  "  The  Reformed  Clergy- 
man," which,  while  they  held  McCorkle's  essays  on 
the  literal  interpretation  of  prophecy  directly  in  re- 
view, had  for  their  aim  the  wider  purpose  of  correct- 
ing the  errors  entertained  and  propagated  to  the  det- 
riment of  the  practical  work  of  the  gospel.  These 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  1 89 

essays  were  written  with  marked  ability.  They  im- 
mediately arrested  universal  attention,  and  were  read 
every-where.  For  prudential  reasons  the  writer  sought 
to  veil  his  style,  evidently  desiring  that  no  bias  might 
be  given  to  his  reasonings  from  personal  considerations. 
Their  drift  and  aim  were  soon  discovered ;  and  the 
positions  assumed,  and  rules  of  prophetic  interpreta- 
tion set  forth,  were  so  consistent  and  evenly  balanced, 
that  the  "  second  sober  thought "  coming  to  the  res- 
cue, the  effect  was  salutary  and  the  remedy  complete. 

Mr.  Campbell's  non  de  plume  of  "  Reformed  Clergy- 
man," was  not  to  all  a  concealment  of  the  real  author 
of  the  essays.  His  style  betrayed  him  ;  and  it  was 
amusing  to  hear  the  discussions — the  hints  and  guesses 
on  the  subject  of  their  authorship,  and  the  merits  of 
the  essays  themselves — which  were  carried  on  with 
Mr.  Campbell  and  by  others  in  his  presence,  before 
he  was  suspected  as  the  writer  of  them.  A  sagacious 
Scotch  lady,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  of  great  posi- 
tiveness,  berated  him  soundly  for  his  indiscretion  in 
permitting  that  "  Reformed  Clergyman  "  to  publish 
such  erroneous  doctrines  in  his  paper.  My  eyes 
stole  over  Mr.  Campbell's  face  the  while,  and  from  the 
tokens  there  I  saw,  first  and  plainly,  a  confession  of 
their  authorship.  The  hits  and  jibes  were  sharp,  as 
from  a  polished  quiver,  and  somewhat  rude,  withal. 
It  was  matter  of  much  joy  to  many  when  this  result 
was  reached,  and  the  brethren  began  to  turn  their 
thoughts  and  talents  more  directly  to  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel.  Among  them,  William  Hayden  should 
be  named,  as  he  saw  and  sorely  felt  the  evil,  but  had 
not  power  to  stay  the  tide  ;  and,  in  like  manner,  others 
who  saw  not  the  evil  tendency  so  plainly,  now  that 


190  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

the  remedy  had  wrought  its  cure,  could  see  more 
clearly  than  ever  the  importance  of  adhering  closely 
to  the  plain  New  Testament  teachings,  taking  Christ 
as  the  only  interpreter  of  type,  shadows,  and  prophecy 
in  the  Old  Testament ;  and  the  inspired  apostles  as 
the  divinely  authorized  and  commissioned  interpre- 
ters of  Christ. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


IQI 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  Church  in  Mentor ;  and  Biography  of  M.  S.  Clapp  and  other 
Advocates  of  the  Gospel. 


OR  several  years  previous  to  the  establishment 


J-  of  the  reformatory  doctrines  in  Mentor,  there 
had  been  a  Baptist  church  in  town,  considerable 
both,  for  numbers  and  influence.  It  had  Elders 
Woodworth,  West,  Abbott,  and  Freeman  as  its  min- 
isters. Near  the  time  of  the  appeal  for  the  union  of 
Bible  men  on  Bible  ground,  it  was  served  by  the 
good  Warner  Goodall.  His  death,  in  June,  1826, 
was  the  occasion  of  calling  Sidney  Rigdon,  then  re- 
siding in  Bainbridge,  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon. 
The  church  called  Rigdon  as  its  pastor  in  the  fall  of 
that  year. 

During  the  winter  of  1825-6,  Corbly  Martin,  who 
became  extensively  useful  in  the  reformation  in  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  resided  in  the  hospitable  family  of 
Judge  Clapp,  a  prominent  member  of  the  church. 
Bro.  Martin  preached  there  during  that  season.  A 
conversation  between  him  and  a  Mrs.  Rexford  is  re- 
ported, in  which  she  urged  the  practice  of  "  close 
communion"  in  the  church  as  an  objection  to  her 
becoming  a  member.  He  failed  to  remove  her  ob- 
jection, and  she  remained  to  be  a  first  convert  when 
the  gospel  offering  a  free  salvation  to  all  who  would 
receive  it  was  first  proclaimed  in  Mentor. 

Sidney  Rigdon  was  an  orator  of  no  inconsiderable 


192 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


abilities.  In  person,  he  was  full  medium  height, 
rotund  in  form  ;  of  countenance,  while  speaking,  open 
and  winning,  with  a  little  cast  of  melancholy.  His 
action  was  graceful,  his  language  copious,  fluent  in 
utterance,  with  articulation  clear  and  musical.  Yet 
he  was  an  enthusiast,  and  unstable.  His  personal 
influence  with  an  audience  was  very  great  ;  but 
many,  with  talents  far  inferior,  surpassed  him  in 
judgment  and  permanent  power  with  the  people. 
He  was  just  the  man  for  an  awakening.  He  was  an 
early  reader  of  the  M  Christian  Baptist,"  and  admiring 
its  strong  and  progressive  teaching,  he  circulated  the 
paper,  and  brought  out  its  views  in  his  sermons. 
Whatever  may  be  justly  said  of  him  after  he  had 
surrendered  himself  a  victim  and  a  leader  of  the 
Mormon  delusion,  it  would  scarcely  be  just  to  deny 
sincerity  and  candor  to  him,  previous  to  the  time 
when  his  bright  star  became  permanently  eclipsed 
under  that  dark  cloud. 

In  March,  1828,  he  visited  Scott  in  Warren.  He 
had  been  with  him  on  former  occasions,  and  had 
adopted  fully  his  method  of  preaching  Christ,  and 
of  calling  the  awakened  and  penitent  believer  to  an 
immediate  obedience  of  his  faith  for  the  remission 
of  sins.  The  missing  link  between  Christ  and  con- 
victed sinners  seemed  now  happily  supplied  by  the 
restoration  of  the  way  of  bringing  converts  into  the 
knowledge  of  pardon,  which  was  established  by 
Christ  himself  in  the  commission. 

Rigdon  was  transported  with  this  discovery.  On 
leaving  Warren  to  return  to  Mentor,  he  persuaded 
his  brother-in-law,  Adamson  Bentley,  to  accompany 
him.     This  was  a  visit  to  that  town  of  no  ordi- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


193 


nary  importance.  Bentley  was  a  gentleman  of  cul- 
tivated manners,  tall,  of  benign  aspect,  and  of  com- 
manding presence ;  and,  as  a  preacher,  dignified, 
solemn,  and  often  very  impressive.  But  more,  they 
were  both  ablaze  with  the  new  developments  of  gos- 
pel light  which  was  shedding  its  effulgence  rapidly 
over  the  country. 

The  trumpet  which  they  blew  gave  no  uncertain 
sound.  It  was  the  old  jubilee  trumpet,  first  sounded 
by  the  fishermen  of  Galilee  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
announcing  glad  tidings  to  the  nations  that  the 
year  of  release  from  bondage  in  sin  had  now  come, 
and  calling  ransomed  sinners  to  return,  freely  par- 
doned, to  their  homes.  They  spoke  with  authority, 
for  the  word  which  they  delivered  was  not  theirs, 
but  that  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  whole  community 
was  quickly  and  thoroughly  aroused.  Many  turned 
to  the  Lord.  The  first  person  to  accept  the  offered 
boon  and  lead  the  people  to  Christ,  was  an  intelli- 
gent young  man,  M.  S.  Clapp,  then  in  his  twenty-first 
year,  son  of  Judge  Clapp.  His  older  brother,  Thomas 
J.  Clapp,  had  been  baptized  in  June  previous. 
Twenty  persons  were  baptized  the  first  time  they  re- 
paired to  the  Jordan.  The  immediate  result  of  the 
meeting  was  the  conversion  of  over  fifty  souls  to  the 
Lord  Jesus. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  agitation  of  the 
public  mind.  The  things  which  they  heard  were  so 
new,  yet  so  clearly  scriptural,  that,  while  some  hes- 
itated and  many  wondered,  they  could  not  gainsay 
it ;  and  nearly  the  whole  church  accepted  cordially 
the  doctrine  of  the  Lord,  exchanged  their  "  articles  " 
for  the  new  covenant  as  the  only  divine  basis  for 
17 


194  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Christ's  church,  and  abandoned  unscriptural  titles  and 
church  names,  choosing  to  be  known  simply  as  the 
disciples  of  Christ. 

From  Mentor  they  went  to  Kirtland,  where  almost 
an  equal  ingathering  awaited  them.  The  fields  were 
white  for  the  harvest.  At  the  first  baptizing  here, 
twenty  souls  were  lifted  into  the  kingdom.  Others 
followed,  and  soon  the  numbers  so  increased  that  a 
separate  organization  became  a  necessity — so  might- 
ily prevailed  the  word  of  the  Lord. 

The  news  of  this  great  overturn  spread  quickly 
through  the  country,  up  and  down  the  lake  shore. 
Bentley  went  to  Painesville.  The  rumor  of  the  re- 
vival in  Mentor  preceded  him,  with  some  exagger- 
ated and  perverted  accounts  of  the  preaching.  He 
delivered  a  few  discourses  on  the  first  principles  of 
the  gospel,  and  left  them  to  leaven  the  minds  of  his 
hearers. 

The  church  now  contained  over  a  hundred  mem- 
bers. The  following  were  prominent ;  many  of  whom 
became  leaders  of  the  host,  and  pillars  in  churches. 
The  head  of  the  family  is  named.  Their  wives,  and 
generally  their  families,  were  also  in  the  church  : 
Deacon  Benj.  Blish,  Deacon  Ebenezer  Nye,  Orris 
Clapp,  Jonathan  Root,  Joel  Rexford,  Thomas  Carroll, 
Asa  Webster,  Sidney  Rigdon,  Deacon  Champney, 
Amos  Wilmot,  Osee  Matthews,  Eggleston  Matthews, 
Joseph  Curtis,  Anson  Matthews,  Sylvester  Durand, 

  Tuttle,    Warren   Corning,  Amos  Daniels, 

Samuel  Miller,  Ezra  B.  Violl,  Noah  Wirt,  David 
Wilson,  Danl.  Wilson,  Alex.  P.  Jones.  To  these  are 
to  be  added,  Mrs.  Moore,  Mrs.  Randall,  Mrs.  Water- 
man, Mrs.  Rexford,  Calista  M.  Lewis,  Morgan  Lewis. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


195 


Few  communities  have  been  so  stable  ;  the  families 
here  named  have  composed  the  staple  of  member- 
ship, and  the  support  of  the  church  from  that  time  to 
the  present.  This  congregation  has  long  stood  as  a 
light-house.  It  was  shaken  as  by  a  tempest  under 
the  outbreak  of  Mormonism  ;  but  it  is  to  be  noted 
that  few  of  its  members  were  led  astray.  While  the 
church  in  Kirtland,  with  less  experience,  and  more 
immediately  in  Rigdon's  power,  became  engulphed, 
and  has  never  since  been  recovered,  the  church  in 
Mentor,  with  stronger  material,  withstood  the  shock. 
They  were  much  aided  in  their  resistance  by  the 
presence  of  Elder  Thomas  Campbell,  who  spent  sev- 
eral months  there  and  in  the  vicinity  during  the  ag- 
itation which  it  produced. 

Bro.  M.  S.  Clapp  came  rapidly  before  the  public, 
and  soon  attained  prominence  by  his  zeal  and  ability. 
In  the  year  1834,  Bro.  E.  Williams  was  settled  as 
pastor  and  elder,  with  Benj.  Blish.  He  served  the 
congregation,  yet  preaching  much  abroad,  till  his  re- 
moval to  Chardon,  in  1856.  Bro.  Blish  not  only  won, 
but  retained  the  fullest  confidence,  not  of  the  church 
only,  but  of  the  whole  community,  for  his  prudence 
in  management,  his  judicious  counsels,  and  godly 
life.  After  having  won  the  crown,  he  died  univer- 
sally beloved,  February,  1864. 

Her  long-time  laborers  were  brethren  Clapp  and 
Williams.  But  a  page  would  scarcely  hold  the  names 
of  all  who  have  gleaned  in  this  harvest-field.  Few 
churches  have  possessed  a  membership  of  more  abil- 
ity. In  a  community  noted  for  its  social  culture,  it 
has  maintained  its  position  with  credit. .  For  integ- 
rity, benevolence,  and  as  a  leader  in  the  cause  of 


I96  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


temperance,  antislavery,  and  measures  that  look  to 
the  lifting  up  of  the  world  from  wrong  and  oppres- 
sion, no  brotherhood  has  a  brighter  record. 

Three  preachers  arose  in  Mentor,  whose  names  are 
known  afar — M.  S.  Clapp,  A.  P.  Jones,  and  J.  J. 
Moss.  Bro.  Moss  was  in  the  employ  of  Bro.  B.  Blish, 
in  the  summer  of  1829.    Raised  in  Presbyterianism, 
he  had  a  spasm  of  horror  when  he  learned  that  he 
had  engaged  himself  to  work  for  a  very  leader  of  the 
new  and  hated  heresy  of  "  Campbellism."    The  first 
evening,  greatly  to  his  surprise,  as  he  had  been  told 
u  Campbellites  "  never  prayed,  Bro.  Blish  gathered  his 
household,  with  the  word  of  God  in  every  hand. 
But  Moss,  still  doubting,  stood  bolt  upright,  while 
all  around  him  knelt.     The  service,  so  simple,  sin- 
cere and  earnest,  melted  his  heart.    Ashamed  of  his 
prejudice,  the  next  time  he  joined,  and  knelt,  and 
prayed.     His  Bible  was  now  read  while  others 
loitered.    He  soon  heard  Bro.  Collins.    His  acute, 
quick  mind   saw,  understood,  and  grasped  the  im- 
mense difference  between  all  forms  of  sect-organiza- 
tion, and  the  simple,  entire  system  of  Christianity 
as  a  whole.    The  sun  was  now  risen  upon  his  under- 
standing, and  the  twinkling  lights  of  Babel-sectarian- 
ism faded.    September,  1829,  he  came  to  Christ,  and 
was  baptized  into  his  name,  which,  with  him,  meant 
the  entire  consecration  of  all  his  powers  to  his  honor. 
The  thousands  by  him  turned  to  God  in  Ohio,  New 
York,  Canada,  Kentucky,  and  other  States,  attest  the 
fidelity  of  his  heart  to  that  plighted  vow.    A  history 
of  his  life  would  fill  a  volume.    He  was  the  first  man 
to  raise  a  testimony  against  Mormonism.    With  the 
elements  of  character  for  pioneer  work,  he  has,  to  an 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


197 


extent  which  can  be  affirmed  of  few  men,  extended 
the  limits  of  the  kingdom  into  new  regions,  and  de- 
fended it  in  the  arena  of  controversy  against  every 
form  of  assault,  with  a  mastery  and  success  above 
the  reach  of  most  men.  He  has  not  always  had  the 
gratitude  of  those  whom  he  has  served,  nor  the 
support  of  the  churches  he  has  planted.  He  was 
born  July  13,  1806,  in  Onondaga,  N.  Y.,  and  after 
forty-five  years  of  toil  and  privations,  he  is  still  in 
the  field. 

Bro.  A.  P.  Jones,  equally  bold  and  with  more  learn- 
ing, was  his  true  yoke-fellow.  They  were  both  teach- 
ing in  the  vicinity  of  Kirtland,  when  Mormonism  in- 
vaded the  place,  and  hand  in  hand,  though  young,  they 
often  put  its  champions  to  flight.  Bro.  Jones  married 
Miss  Irene  Gilbert,  of  Newburg,  and  soon  afterwards 
he  gave  himself  to  the  service  of  the  new  churches 
in  western  New  York,  where  his  name  is  still  cher- 
ished with  great  respect.  He  finally  settled  in 
Platteville,  Grant  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
preached  for  several  years.  He  has  recently  fallen 
asleep  in  the  Lord. 

Biography  of  Matthew  S.  Clapp. 

If  "a  good  man's  steps  are  ordered  of  the  Lord,"  as 
says  the  prophet,  "his  death  also  is  precious  in  His 
sight." 

Bro.  Clapp  was  born  in  Mentor,  February  1,  1808.  His 
father,  the  late  Hon.  Orris  Clapp,  was  called  by  his  fel- 
low-citizens to  serve  as  Judge  of  the  Court;  which  trust  he 
discharged,  with  honor.  Matthew's  early  life  was  passed 
amidst  the  scenes  and  privation  of  that  early  day.  His 


I98  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

boyhood  passed  during  the  war  of  181 2-1 4  and  the  years 
subsequent,  when  the  chivalrous  anecdotes  and  the  mili- 
tary deeds  of  that  stirring  history  formed  the  staple  of 
conversation  of  the  times.  With  eager  ear  and  acute 
mind,  he  caught  up  the  recitals  of  those  exploits  and  deeds 
of  valor — a  discipline  for  achievements  on  a  far  different 
field. 

In  March,  1828,  in  the  great  religious  awakening  in 
Mentor,  under  Bentley  and  Rigdon,  the  amiable  M.  S. 
Clapp  was  the  first  to  yield.  He  was  baptized  by  Bro. 
Bentley.  Many  predicted  for  him  a  bright  course  as  a 
herald  of  the  gospel.  The  late  venerable  Thomas  Camp- 
bell fully  confirmed  his  purpose  to  devote  his  talents  to 
the  ministry  of  the  Word.  Under  this  devout  and  su- 
perior man,  Clapp  began  his  study  of  the  classics.  He 
availed  himself  of  whatever  aids  were  within  his  reach, 
yet  in  this  instance  the  student  was  himself  the  chief 
teacher.  His  application  was  so  complete,  that  he  be- 
came not  only  a  respectable  Greek  scholar,  but  also  a  good 
Latinist.  During  all  these  studies  he  was  preaching,  vis- 
iting the  newly-founded  churches,  and  increasing  the 
number  of  the  converts. 

In  the  fall  of  1830,  he  married  Miss  Alicia  Campbell, 
sister  of  Alexander  Campbell.  This  proved  a  happy 
union.  He  spent  some  time  in  Bethany,  West  Virginia, 
where  he  diligently  improved  the  favorable  opportunities 
which  he  found  in  Mr.  Campbell's  family,  for  enriching 
his  stores  of  knowledge,  and  for  forming  acquaintance 
with  gentlemen  of  education,  who  were  almost  constantly 
guests  in  Bro.  Campbell's  family.  He  also  resided  a  year 
or  more  in  West  Middletown,  Pennsylvania,  with  Mat- 
thew McKeever,  Esq.,  another  brother-in-law,  while 
' 1  Father  and  Mother  Campbell,"  models  of  gentleness, 
dignity  and  Christian  excellence,  were  in  their  full  ripe- 
ness and  strength,  sitting  as  king  and  queen  amidst  the 
family. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


199 


After  this  short  episode,  he  returned  to  Mentor,  which 
became  his  permanent  abode.  He  continued  his  public 
labors,  visiting  weak  communities  of  brethren,  receiving 
little  compensation,  often  none,  for  his  labors.  From 
necessity,  quite  as  much  as  from  choice,  he  resorted  at 
times  to  farming,  interlacing  its  labors  with  his  public 
duties.  Experience  proved  to  him  as  it  has  to  thousands, 
that  the  world  will  not  pay  for  its  own  reformation  ;  that 
the  pioneer  advocate  of  new  and  revolutionary  principles 
must  go  forth,  like  the  martyr-apostles,  suffering  and  to 
suffer. 

Bro.  Clapp  saw — rightly  saw — in  the  Christian  religion 
the  germs  of  all  good  to  man  in  this  world,  as  well  as  the 
sure  and  only  basis  for  hope  hereafter.  Every  attack  upon 
its  claims  he  was  consequently  prompt  to  repel.  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  was  the  Son  of  Man,  as  well  as  the  Son  of  God, 
and  he  lived  for  the  good  of  the  world  in  every  possible 
condition.  As  a  friend  to  his  race  he  must  defend  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  helper  of  the  poor,  the  Savior  of  the 
world.  So  when  a  shrewd,  young,  accomplished,  eloquent, 
lawyer  in  Elyria,  Joel  Tiffany,  Esq.,  walked  into  the 
arena,  and  threw  down  the  glove,  M.  S.  Clapp  took  his 
"  sling  and  five  smooth  stones  gathered  from  the  brook," 
and  stood  before  the  boaster.  He  so  fully  exposed  the 
dark  counsels  of  atheistic  sophistry,  that  Mr.  Tiffany  de- 
clared at  the  close  of  the  discussion,  "It  is  the  last  time 
I  will  ever  stand  in  opposition  to  the  Christian  religion.* ' 
And  it  was.  Soon  after  he  was  baptized  in  Elyria,  and 
became  a  quasi  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

His  happiness  in  his  family  was  not  suffered  to  continue 
without  interruption.  A  sad  day  came.  He  looked  for  the 
last  time  on  the  living  form  of  his  excellent  companion. 
One  by  one  all  the  children  of  his  first  marriage  went  be- 
fore him  down  to  rest.  The  last  of  them,  Campbell 
Clapp,  was  killed  in  the  State  of  New  York,  by  the  falling 
of  a  cattle  train  through  a  defective  bridge.    He  was  a 


200  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

young  man  of  much  promise.  A  large  concourse  attended 
his  funeral  services  in  Mentor. 

April  26,  1840,  he  married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Randall,  of 
Mentor,  a  union  whose  felicity  was  not  marred  or  broken 
till  the  last  sad  stroke  which  left  her  a  widow,  and  her  four 
living  children  without  a  paternal  head.  The  winter  after 
their  marriage  they  spent  in  Pompey,  Onondaga  County, 
New  York,  laboring  in  the  gospel.  The  friendship  they 
established  there  with  many  of  the  citizens  continued 
through  life.  The  next  season  he  spent,  by  invitation, 
preaching  for  the  church  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Here 
his  skill  as  a  peacemaker  found  scope  for  useful  exercise. 
His  ministrations  for  good  were  signally  blessed,  less  in 
gathering  many  into  the  fold  than  in  purifying  and  regu- 
lating the  fold  itself.  His  friends,  Drs.  Eleazer  and  Sam- 
uel Parmly,  received  him  with  marked  and  merited  hos- 
pitality. His  residence  in  the  great  commercial  metropo- 
lis was  a  bright  and  useful  epoch  in  his  history.  While  in 
the  city,  he  received  instructions  in  Hebrew  under  Sexias, 
a  Hebraist  of  note,  the  very  same  son  of  Abraham  who 
came  to  Kirtland,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  instructed  the  Mor- 
mons in  the  "unknown  tongues,"  the  boasted  proof  of 
inspiration  of  the  disciples  of  Smith,  and  the  marvel  of 
many  well-duped  outsiders. 

It  should  be  noted  that  Bro.  Clapp  was  not  a  clergyman 
in  any  restricted  or  exclusive  sense.  His  eye  was  open 
to  the  widest  views.  He  was  ready  to  second  all  legiti- 
mate measures  for  the  elevation  and  amelioration  of  men 
in  all  departments  of  society.  With  him  the  pulpit  was 
not  a  theological  chest,  or  box,  containing  a  few  well  as- 
sorted and  labeled  wares  to  be  cried  on  sale.  It  was 
rather  a  veritable  throne  of  power,  and  the  incumbent 
was  bound  to  deal  with  all  the  active,  moral  questions  that 
affect  society.  Hence  his  early,  and  open,  and  uncon- 
querable opposition  to  intemperance.  Hence,  also,  he 
stood  out,  when  he  had  to  stand  quite  alone,  on  the  anti- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  201 

slavery  question.  Of  these  and  kindred  subjects  he  took 
the  broadest  views.  The  poorly-paid  laborer,  the  unpaid 
seamstress,  were  objects  of  lively  and  sympathizing  interest 
to  him.  He  had  faith  in  appeals  to  heaven  for  their  re- 
dress; but  with  equal  faith,  he  appealed  to  the  benevo- 
lence and  conscientiousness  of  men  for  their  relief.  So 
ardent  were  his  feelings,  so  fixed  his  principles,  that  he 
took  radical  ground,  and  plead  so  uncompromisingly  that 
at  times  he  provoked  the  charge  of  ultraism.  Yet  no  such 
charge  moved  him.  His  principles  in  regard  to  war  were 
equally  radical  and  decided.  He  opposed  all  war,  at  all 
times  for  any  purpose.  It  is  due  him  to  say  that  all  these 
great  moral  subjects  he  viewed  from  the  Bible  ground, 
and  not  as  a  partisan,  or  in  coalition  with  any  special  or- 
ganization, social  or  civil.  Yet  his  known  opposition  to 
war,  slavery,  and  intemperance,  brought  him  at  times 
alongside  persons  whose  advocacy  of  these  reforms  was 
prompted  by  no  higher  than  merely  temporal,  and  some- 
times selfish,  considerations. 

It  was  his  conviction  that  he  could  serve  these  great  ends 
in  a  wider  and  different  field,  which  gained  his  consent 
to  a  nomination  as  candidate  to  the  Legislature.  The 
polls  confirmed  the  nomination.  His  acceptance  was 
upon  a  platform  which,  in  his  judgment,  invited  the  play 
of  his  principles  on  a  grander  stage.  He  returned  from 
Columbus  conscious  of  having  performed  his  duties  faith- 
fully, and  satisfied  with  the  general  approval  of  his  con- 
stituency. 

The  last  few  years  of  his  life  he  spent  in  Detroit, 
preaching,  and  in  various  ways  shedding  the  light  and 
warmth  of  his  genial  and  religious  nature  on  society  around 
him.  During  the  last  year  before  his  death,  it  became  ap- 
parent that  his  "natural  force  was  abated."  As  the  prog- 
ress of  his  frailty  rendered  his  departure  an  event  more  and 
more  certainly  near,  the  anchor  of  his  hope  maintained  the 
steadiest  hold  on  its  deep  fastenings  in  the  Rock.  The 


202  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


calmness  of  his  mind  was  wonderful.  "I  do  not  ask 
you  to  pray  for  my  recovery,"  he  said  to  his  brethren, 
"  but  that  with  unfaltering  trust  and  bright  hope  I  may 
pass  into  the  world  of  light." 

He  had  often  expressed  a  feeling  of  the  happiness  it 
would  afford  him  to  be  summoned  away  to  the  Lord  just 
in  the  midst  of  the  memorial  scenes  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
His  thought  was  an  accepted  prayer.  His  departure  to 
Jesus  was  on  the  Lord's  day.  One  week  before  he  died 
the  brethren  assembled  in  his  room  and  partook  with  him 
the  loaf  of  blessing.  The  next  week,  December  1 7th,  at 
his  request,  they  came  again,  and  again  the  blessed  Supper 
was  administered.  All  bore  witness  of  the  deep  earnest- 
ness of  his  devotions.  His  voice  was  almost  too  feeble 
for  utterance.  He  spoke  but  little.  All  seemed  aware 
that  the  messenger  was  at  the  door.  The  service  ended  ; 
scarcely  had  the  communicant  members  reached  their 
homes  when  the  word  came  that  he  was  at  peace  in  Abra- 
ham's bosom. 

His  remains,  accompanied  by  his  family  and  his  friend, 
Colin  Campbell,  of  Detroit,  were  brought  to  Mentor,  the 
home  of  his  childhood.  Many  of  his  early  friends  came 
and  stood  silently  and  sadly  around  him.  Six  preachers 
participated  in  the  funeral  services,  when  we  consigned  to 
the  dust  the  remains  of  this  patriotic  citizen,  this  gener- 
ous friend  and  devoted  preacher. 

He  had  nearly  completed  his  sixty-fourth  year.  His 
memory  was  capacious,  retentive,  and  peculiar.  It  was 
remarkable  for  its  verbal  power.  It  was  richly  stored  with 
the  exact  language  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  From  his  co- 
pious stores  he  could  draw  with  great  readiness  and  cor- 
rectness. His  scholarship  in  general  history,  and  es- 
pecially in  English  literature,  was  very  complete.  He  had 
read  with  care  the  standard  poets,  and  was  familiar  with 
the  opinions  of  the  leading  critics  on  most  subjects  of  in- 
terest.   His  own  taste,  critical  and  chaste,  furnished  him 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


203 


a  style  in  writing  and  public  address,  correct,  pure,  and 
expressive.  He  was  often  ornate,  sometimes  eloquent,  but 
never  pompous  nor  declamatory. 

His  manners  were  simple,  dignified,  urbane,  courteous 
to  inferiors,  respectful  to  all.  His  conversation  and  his 
speeches  were  marked  by  delicacy,  flavored  with  wit  and 
anecdote,  always  pure,  and  manifested  great  liberality  of 
views.  His  piety  and  honesty  held  sway  supreme  among 
his  qualities  of  character.  Sometimes  his  ardor  led  him 
to  undue  bounds — but  none  could  feel  more  keenly  the 
excess,  or  make  amends  more  heartily  when  convinced  of 
overstepping  the  limits  of  prudence. 

Few  men  among  us  were  more  widely  known  or  more 
sincerely  respected.  For  him  no  monument  is  needed, 
especially  in  his  own  dear  family,  where  he  is  embalmed 
in  the  tenderest  and  most  durable  affection. 

When  the  call  was  sounded  for  a  return  to  Jerusa- 
lem and  Pentecost,  it  called  out  many  noble  advo- 
cates. Some  of  them  had  "professed  religion,"  as 
the  phrase  ran,  but  they  lay  in  spiritual  torpor  under 
the  confused  and  bewildering  exhibitions  of  Chris- 
tianity which  they  were  accustomed  to  hear.  When 
they  saw  the  gospel  scheme,  the  Bible  became  intel- 
ligible; and  under  the  impulse  of  their  joy  at  the 
discovery,  they  "did  run  to  bring  the  disciples 
word  "  of  the  clearer  views  of  the  gospel  which  gave 
them  such  joy.  These  men  are  worthy  of  a  good 
record. 

In  the  fall  of  1821,  William  Waite,  emigrated  from 
Saratoga  County,  New  York,  on  the  head  waters  of 
the  Susquehanna,  and  settled  on  the  plateau  since 
known  as  Waite  Hill,  in  Willoughby.  He  and  his 
wife  were  Baptists.  His  sons,  Erastus  and  Alvan — 
the  latter  in  his  eighteenth  year — had  come  in  ad- 


204  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

vance,  in  February  before.  The  next  autumn,  his 
son-in-law,  Dexter  Otis,  in  his  twenty-eighth  year, 
arrived  and  settled  in  Kirtland.  Otis  united  with 
the  Baptists  under  the  preaching  of  Elder  Steven- 
son, better  satisfied  with  the  scriptural  mode  of  bap- 
tism, than  with  the  creed  and  close  communion, 
matters  on  which  his  mind  was  never  at  rest.  El- 
der Goodall  came  to  Waite  Hill,  baptized  Erastus 
Waite  and  others,  and  so  arose  a  church  in  the  Bap- 
tist order.  When  Elder  T.  Campbell  came  to 
Mentor,  soon  after,  these  brethren,  E.  Waite  and  D. 
Otis,  were  so  delighted  with  the  new  light  which 
beamed  on  the  gospel  from  his  preaching,  that  they 
pressed  him  to  come  to  Waite  Hill.  His  sermons 
made  a  marked  impression,  powerfully  advancing  the 
more  liberal  and  correct  views  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment order  of  things.  Rigdon  coming  in  about  that 
time,  and  following  up  the  well  begun  work  by  his 
earnest  and  animating  appeals,  several  were  bap- 
tized, among  whom  was  Alvan  Waite,  then  in  his 
twenty-sixth  year.  This  was  in  1829.  In  the  same 
movement,  and  by  the  same  hands,  E.  B.  Violl,  Sam- 
uel Miller,  and  Noah  Wirt  were  brought  into  the 
kingdom.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  on  Waite  Hill. 

These  men  all  made  their  mark.  Dexter  Otis 
was  appointed  overseer,  and  he  soon  began  to  preach. 
In  1835  he  moved  to  the  township  of  Chardon,  and 
there  gathered  a  church.  It  flourished  while  he 
lived — it  declined  at  his  death.  He  worked  hard 
with  his  own  hands,  yet  he  was  so  diligent  in  study 
that  he  became  a  good  Bible  scholar,  and  was  well 
informed  in  history  as  it  relates  to  prophetic  subjects. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


205 


His  candor  was  proverbial.  He  was  conscientiously 
opposed  to  display  in  dress,  and  to  all  forms  of  pride, 
and  was  himself  in  these  respects  a  consistent  ex- 
ample. He  was  so  humble,  zealous,  earnest,  and  in- 
structive in  his  lectures  on  Bible  themes,  that  all 
heard  him  with  delight.  His  speech,  like  his  garb, 
was  plain,  but  it  went  to  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
He  turned  many  from  infidelity  to  the  faith,  and  from 
sin  to  righteousness.  His  very  useful  life  termi- 
nated March  15,  1845.  His  works  follow  him,  and 
the  memory  of  him  is  a  fragrant  odor  in  all  that 
region. 

Equally  useful,  but  a  different  type  of  manhood 
was  Alvan  Waite.  He  was  a  man  of  full  size  and 
manly  form,  a  man  of  superior  judgment  and  great 
weight  of  character.  His  timidity  kept  him  in  the 
shade,  till  strongly  urged,  especially  by  Bro.  Otis, 
he  took  a  bolder  and  more  public  stand  for  the  gos- 
pel. All  the  rising  churches  around  him  felt  the 
weight  of  his  presence  and  edifying  sermons.  Can- 
dor, kindness,  sincerity,  and  good  sense  prevailed  in 
his  instructive  discourses.  He  was  cheerful,  hope- 
ful, and  confiding.  In  1844  he  went  with  William 
Hayden,  in  a  tour  through  western  New  York,  in 
which  he  gained  much  respect  for  his  affectionate 
manners,  and  his  clear  exhibitions  of  the  truth. 
Soon  after,  consumption  began  to  appear.  In  the 
summer  of  1846,  he  journeyed  to  the  new  West  in 
hope  of  recuperation,  visiting  the  churches  in  north- 
ern Indiana  and  Lake  County,  Illinois,  and  helping 
them  by  his  wise  counsels.  He  steadily  declined 
till  May  20,  1847,  when  he  passed  in  among  the 
shining  ones.    He  died  at  his  home  on  Waite  Hill, 


206  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


with  his  affectionate  family,  surrounded  by  many 
friends  who  mourned  the  loss  of  so  useful  a  man. 

Ezra  B.  Violl  who  came  to  Christ  with  these  no- 
ble men,  and  who  was  their  close  companion  all  the 
way,  was  still  left  in  the  field.  He  had  consecrated 
the  powers  of  intelligible  speech  and  sound  reason- 
ing, which  God  gave  him,  to  the  proclamation  of  his 
truth.  He  traveled  into  other  counties,  and  was 
abundant  in  labors  in  his  own  regions.  He  was  born 
in  the  year  1806.  He  turned  to  God  in  1829,  and 
began  almost  immediately  to  hold  forth  the  word  of 
life.  He  preached  with  great  fervor,  not  only  in 
Willoughby  and  Mentor — in  Perry  also,  and  Euclid, 
and  is  gratefully  remembered  in  Camden  and  other 
towns  in  Lorain  County.  He  served  in  the  cam- 
paigns for  about  twenty  years.  He  fell  a  victim  to 
the  fatal  malady  consumption,  which  terminated 
his  days  on  the  9th  of  April,  185 1.  He  was  visited 
near  the  time  of  his  departure  by  Bro.  M.  S.  Clapp, 
whose  conversation  cheered  the  feeble  saint.  Bro. 
Clapp  said  to  him:  "  Bro.  Violl,  it  must  seem  hard 
to  you  to  leave  the  world  in  the  midst  of  your  life 
and  usefulness,  and  to  part  with  your  kind  and  affec- 
tionate companion  !"  u  Yes,  Bro.  Clapp,  it  is  hard  in 
that  view,  but  not  so  hard  as  you  think.  I  used  to 
think  so  when  I  was  ou^  there  where  you  are  ;  but 
when  you  come  in  here  where  I  am,  you  will  not  find 
it  so  hard  ! "  Strikingly  coincident  were  the  clos- 
ing scenes  of  these  dear  friends.  In  about  twenty 
years,  Bro.  Clapp  came  by  the  same  path  in  slow 
approaches  to  the  dark  stream.  Perhaps  he  then 
thought  of  his  friend  Violl's  words,  and  had  an  ex- 
perience of  their  truth ! 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


207 


Samuel  Miller,  of  the  same  church,  was  the  peer 
of  these  noble  men,  in  all  that  constitutes  broad  and 
generous  manhood.  His  parents — John  and  Catha- 
rine Miller,  came  into  Ohio  when  it  was  yet  a  terri- 
tory, from  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  a  place  now  memorable 
in  American  history.  They  settled  in  Willoughby, 
where  Samuel  was  born,  August  30,  1802  ;  the  first 
white  male  child  born  in  that  town.  The  country 
was  a  wilderness,  and  the  red  man,  with  the  game  he 
chased,  ranged  the  interminable  forests.  February 
26,  1828,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Storm.  He 
had  been  trained  in  the  Lutheran  church.  When  in 
1829,  the  great  wave  of  religious  reformation  broke 
along  the  shore  of  the  lake,  he  heard,  examined,  and 
with  his  usual  independence,  candor,  and  decision, 
he  confessed  the  Lord ;  his  wife  joining  him  in  this 
consecration  to  Jesus  Christ ;  also  Bro.  Violl,  Wirt, 
and  others,  who  were  his  companions  in  the  support 
of  the  gospel.  When  the  overflowing  scourge  of 
Mormonism  burst  forth,  these  three  men,  with  Otis 
and  Waite,  withstood  the  shock,  though  Rigdon 
himself,  their  leader  to  Christ,  had  reeled  and  fallen 
under  its  blow. 

Bro.  Miller  was  distinguished  for  superior  business 
capacity,  great  probity,  and  for  his  consistent  and 
liberal  benefactions.  Hiram  College  and  the  Ohio 
Christian  Missionary  Society  received  liberal  dona- 
tions from  his  hand. 

He  lived  to  bow  at  the  grave  of  nearly  all  who 
started  with  him  in  the  gospel.  As  he  saw  the  pain- 
ful disease  leading  him  slowly  and  certainly  to 
death,  with  wise  forecast  he  made  ample  provision 
for  the  comfort  of  his  faithful  wife,  and  left  the  bal- 


208  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ance  of  his  property  in  the  hands  of  a  faithful  and 
competent  Christian  friend,  A.  Teachout,  to  be  used 
for  the  gospel.  Business  done,  his  attentions  were 
devoted  to  his  friends  as  they  came  about  him,  and 
to  contemplations  on  the  things  that  are  eternal,  in 
the  heavens.  In  the  calmness  of  an  unfaltering  trust 
he  fell  asleep,  September  6,  1867,  aged  sixty-five 
years. 

The  church  on  Waite  Hill  was  organized  in  1830. 
Dexter  Otis  and  Steven  Tinkham  were  the  over- 
seers, and  John  Violl  and  Noah  Wirt,  deacons.  Bro. 
Wirt  was  afterwards  called  to  the  eldership.  His 
active  life  in  the  ministry  was  a  great  support  to 
the  church  till  his  removal  to  Wisconsin. 

With  these,  Bro.  Ransom  R.  Storm  was  long  as- 
sociated. He  was  a  man  of  superior  gifts,  an  easy 
speaker,  and  a  pointed  reasoner.  He  was  born  in 
18 1 8,  in  Shenango  County,  New  York,  but  was 
brought  up  in  Ohio.  He  confessed  his  faith  in 
Christ  in  Mentor,  under  the  preaching  of  Bro.  Wil- 
liams, and  soon  began  to  proclaim  the  gospel.  He 
became  much  devoted  to  his  work.  At  the  call  of 
some  churches  in  Lake  County,  Illinois,  he  settled 
among  them,  where  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his 
ministry.  Disease  seized  him,  and  as  he  became 
weaker,  he  was  brought,  by  his  desire,  to  pass  the 
last  of  his  days  among  his  numerous  friends  in 
Willoughby,  where  he  died  June  I,  1871,  in  the  full 
hope  of  immortality  in  Christ. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  ADVENT  OF  MORMONISM. 

THIS  was  in  the  fall  of  1830.  This  coarse  im- 
posture was  not  born  of  chance.  Characterized 
by  much  that  is  gross,  and  accompanied  by  practices 
repulsive  for  their  lowness  and  vulgarity,  it  yet  had  a 
plan  and  an  aim,  and  it  was  led  on  by  a  master  spirit 
of  delusion.  It  marked  out  its  own  course,  and 
premeditated  its  points  of  attack.  Its  advent  in 
Mentor  was  not  accidental.  Its  four  emissaries  to  the 
"  Lamanites  "  in  the  West,  like  the  four  evil  messen- 
gers from  the  Euphrates  (Rev.  ix:  15),  had  Rigdon 
in  their  eye  before  leaving  Palmyra,  N.  Y.  On  his 
part,  Rigdon,  with  pompous  pretense,  was  travailing 
with  expectancy  of  some  great  event  soon  to  be  re- 
vealed to  the  surprise  and  astonishment  of  mankind. 
Gifted  with  very  fine  powers  of  mind,  an  imagination 
at  once  fertile,  glowing  and  wild  to  extravagance,  with 
temperament  tinged  with  sadness  and  bordering  on 
credulity,  he  was  prepared  and  preparing  others  for 
the  voice  of  some  mysterious  event  soon  to  come. 

The  discomfiture  he  experienced  at  the  hands  of 
Mr.  Campbell  at  Austintown,  when  seeking  to  intro- 
duce his  common  property  scheme,  turned  him  away 
mortified,  chagrined  and  alienated.  This  was  only 
two  and  a  half  months  before  he  received,  in  peace, 
the  messengers  of  delusion.  Another  fact :  A  little 
18 


2IO  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


after  this,  the  same  fall,  and  before  the  first  emissa- 
ries of  the  Mormon  prophet  came  to  Mentor,  Parley 
P.  Pratt,  a  young  preacher  of  some  promise  from  Lo- 
rain County,  a  disciple  under  Rigdon's  influence, 
passing  through  Palmyra,  the  prophet's  home,  turned 
aside  to  see  this  great  sight.  He  became  an  easy 
convert.  Immediately  an  embassy  is  prepared,  com- 
posed of  this  same  P.  P.  Pratt,  Oliver  Cowdery  and 
two  others,  for  the  "  Lamanites." 

The  next  scene  opens  in  Mentor.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  November,  came  two  footmen  with  carpet  bags 
filled  with  copies  of  the  book  of  Mormon,  and  stopped 
at  Rigdon's.  What  passed  that  night  between  him  and 
these  young  prophets  no  pen  will  reveal ;  but  inter- 
preting events  came  rapidly  on.  Next  morning, 
while  Judge  Clapp's  family  were  at  breakfast,  in  came 
Rigdon,  and  in  an  excited  manner  said  :  "Two  men 
came  to  my  house  last  night  on  a  c-u-r-i-o  u-s  mis- 
sion ;"  prolonging  the  word  in  a  strange  manner. 
When  thus  awakened,  all  around  the  table  looking  up, 
he  proceeded  to  narrate  how  some  men  in  Palmyra, 
N.  Y.,  had  found,  by  direction  of  an  angel,  certain 
plates  inscribed  with  mysterious  characters  ;  that  by 
the  same  heavenly  visitant,  a  young  man,  ignorant  of 
letters,  had  been  led  into  the  secret  of  deciphering 
the  writing  on  the  plates  ;  that  it  made  known  the 
origin  of  the  Indian  tribes  ;  with  other  matters  of 
great  interest  to  the  world,  and  that  the  discovery 
would  be  of  such  importance  as  to  open  the  way  for 
the  introduction  of  the  Millennium.  Amazement  ! 
They  had  been  accustomed  to  his  stories  about  the 
Indians,  much  more  marvelous  than  credible,  but  this 
strange  statement,  made  with  an  air  both  of  wonder 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


211 


and  credulity,  overcame  their  patience.  "  Its  all  a 
lie,"  cried  out  Matthew,  quite  disconcerting  the  half 
apostate  Rigdon  ;  and  this  future  Aaron  of  the  new 
prophet  retired. 

These  two  men  who  came  to  Rigdon's  residence, 
were  the  young  preacher  before  named,  P.  P.  Pratt, 
intimately  acquainted  with  Rigdon,  and  therefore, 
doubtless,  chosen  to  lead  the  mission,  and  Oliver 
Cowdery.  This  Mr.  Cowdery  was  one  of  the  three 
original  witnesses  to  Mormonism  ;  Martin  Harris  and 
David  Whitmar  were  the  other  two.  Harris  was  the 
first  scribe  to  record  the  new  Bible  at  the  dictation 
of  Smith  ;  but  through  carelessness  he  suffered  the 
devil  to  steal  1 1 6  pages  of  the  manuscript,  and  then 
Cowdery  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

These  men  staid  with  Rigdon  all  the  week.  In  the 
neighborhood,  lived  a  Mr.  Morley,  a  member  of  the 
church  in  Kirtland,  who,  acting  on  the  community 
principles,  had  established  a  "  family."  The  new  doc- 
trines of  having  "  all  things  in  common,"  and  of  re- 
storing miracles  to  the  world  as  a  fruit  and  proof  of 
true  faith,  found  a  ready  welcome  by  this  incipient 
"  community."  They  were  all,  seventeen  in  number, 
re-immersed  in  one  night  into  this  new  dispensation. 

At  this,  Rigdon  seemed  much  displeased.  He  told 
them  what  they  had  done  was  without  precedent  or 
authority  from  the  Scriptures,  as  they  had  baptized 
for  the  power  of  miracles,  while  the  apostles,  as  he 
showed,  baptized  penitential  believers  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins.  When  pressed,  they  said  what  they  had 
done  was  merely  at  the  solicitation  of  those  persons. 
Rigdon  called  on  them  for  proofs  of  the  truth  of 
their  book  and  mission.    They  related  the  manner 


212  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


in  which  they  obtained  faith,  which  was  by  praying 
for  a  sign,  and  an  angel  appeared  to  them.  Rigdon 
here  showed  them  from  Scripture  the  possibility  of 
their  being  deceived :  "  For  Satan  himself  is  trans- 
formed into  an  angel  of  light."  "  But,"  said  Cowdery, 
"  do  you  think  if  I  should  go  to  my  Heavenly  Father, 
with  all  sincerity,  and  pray  to  him,  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  that  he  would  not  show  me  an  angel — 
that  he  would  suffer  Satan  to  deceive  me  ? "  Rigdon 
replied :  "  If  the  Heavenly  Father  has  ever  promised 
to  show  you  an  angel  to  confirm  any  thing,  he  would 
not  suffer  you  to  be  deceived  ;  for  John  says  :  '  If  we 
ask  any  thing  according  to  his  will,  he  heareth  us.' 
But,"  he  continued,  "if  you  should  ask  the  Heavenly 
Father  to  show  you  an  angel,  when  he  has  never 
promised  such  a  thing — if  the  devil  never  had  an  op- 
portunity before  of  deceiving  you,  you  give  him  one 
now." 

This  was  a  word  in  season,  fitly  spoken ;  yet, 
strange  enough  !  "  two  days  afterward  he  was  per- 
suaded to  tempt  God  by  asking  this  sign.  The  sign 
appeared,  and  he  was  convinced  that  Mormonism  was 
of  God  !  According  to  his  own  reasoning,  therefore, 
Satan  appeared  to  him  as  an  angel  of  light.  But  he 
now  imputed  his  former  reasoning  to  pride,  incredulity, 
and  the  influence  of  the  Evil  One." 

The  next  Sunday  Rigdon,  accompanied  by  Pratt 
and  Cowdery,  went  to  Kirtland  to  his  appointment. 
He  attempted  to  preach  ;  but  with  the  awful  blas- 
phemy in  his  heart,  and  the  guilt  of  so  shameless  an 
apostasy  on  his  conscience,  how  could  he  open  his 
mouth  in  the  name  of  the  insulted  Jesus?  The  elo- 
quent lips  which  never  stammered  before,  soon  be- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


213 


came  speechless,  and  his  tongue  was  dumb.  The 
faithless  watchman,  covered  with  the  shame  of  his 
fall,  surrendered  his  pulpit  and  congregation  to  the 
prey  of  wolves.  Cowdery  and  Pratt  did  most  of 
the  preaching ;  and  that  day,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rig- 
don,  with  many "  of  the  members  of  the  church  in 
Kirtland,  were  baptized  into  the  new  faith. 

"  Scenes  of  the  most  wild,  frantic  and  horrible  fanati- 
cism ensued.  They  pretended  that  the  power  of  miracles 
was  about  to  be  given  to  all  who  embraced  the  new  faith ; 
and  commenced  communicating  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  laying 
their  hands  on  the  heads  of  the  converts,  which  operation, 
at  first,  produced  an  instantaneous  prostration  of  body  and 
mind.  Many  would  fall  upon  the  floor,  where  they  would 
lie  for  a  long  time,  apparently  lifeless.  The  fits  usually 
came  on  during,  or  after,  their  prayer-meetings,  which  were 
held  nearly  every  evening.  The  young  men  and  women 
were  more  particularly  subject  to  this  delirium.  They 
would  exhibit  all  the  apish  actions  imaginable,  making  the 
most  ridiculous  grimaces,  creeping  upon  their  hands  and 
feet,  rolling  upon  the  frozen  ground,  going  through  all 
the  Indian  modes  of  warfare,  such  as  knocking  down, 
scalping,  etc.  At  other  times  they  would  run  through  the 
fields,  get  upon  stumps,  preach  to  imaginary  congregations, 
enter  the  water  and  perform  the  ceremony  of  baptizing. 
Many  would  have  fits  of  speaking  in  all  the  Indian  dialects, 
which  none  could  understand.  Again,  at  the  dead  hour 
of  night,  young  men  might  be  seen  running  over  the  fields 
and  hills,  in  pursuit,  as  they  said,  of  the  balls  of  fire,  lights, 
etc.,  which  they  saw  moving  through  the  atmosphere." — 
Mor monism  Unveiled,  pp.  104,  105. 

These  ridiculous  practices  were  performed  in  Mr. 
Rigdon's  absence.  About  three  weeks  after  his 
adoption  of  the  delusion,  he  went  to  Palmyra  to  see 


214 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Smith.  The  prophet  was  rejoiced  at  his  coming, 
and  had  a  revelation  all  ready  for  him,  just  suited  to 
his  own  purpose  and  Rigdon's  vanity.  The  begin- 
ning of  it  is  here  transcribed : 

"  A  commandment  to  Joseph  and  Sidney,  December  7, 
1830,  saying:  Listen  to  the  voice  of  the  Lord  your  God  : 
I  am  Alpha  and  Omega.  Behold  !  verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  my  servant  Sidney,  I  have  looked  upon  thee  and  thy 
works ;  I  have  heard  thy  prayers,  and  prepared  thee  for  a 
greater  work:  thou  art  blessed,  for  thou  shalt  do  great 
things.  Behold  !  thou  wast  sent  forth  even  as  John,  to 
prepare  the  way  before  me  and  Elijah,  which  should  come, 
and  thou  knewest  it  not.  Thou  didst  baptize  with  water 
unto  repentance,  but  they  secured  not  the  Holy  Ghost. 
But  now  I  give  unto  you  a  commandment  that  thou  shalt 
baptize  with  water  and  give  the  Holy  Ghost  by  laying  on 
of  hands,  even  as  the  apostles  of  old.  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  that  there  shall  be  a  great  work  in  the  land,  even 
among  the  Gentiles." 

Mr.  Rigdon  tarried  with  Smith  about  two  months, 
receiving  revelations,  preaching  in  the  vicinity,  and 
urging  proofs  of  the  new  religion.  His  knowledge 
of  the  Bible  enabled  him  to  pervert  many  scriptures 
to  this  end.  Soon  after  his  return  to  Ohio,  Smith  and 
several  of  his  relatives  arrived.  "This  being  the 
*  promised  land/  in  it  their  long  cherished  hopes  and 
anticipations  of  living  without  work  were  to  be  real- 
ized. Thus,  from  almost  a  state  of  beggary,  the  fam- 
ily of  Smiths  were  immediately  well  furnished  with 
the  '  fat  of  the  land  '  by  their  fanatical  followers,  many 
of  whom  were  wealthy." 

The  new  delusion  immediately  assumed  an  aggress- 
ive attitude.    A  hierarchy  was  formed  consisting  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


215 


several  orders  of  priesthood  and  grades  of  eldership. 
New  converts  began  to  come  up  to  the  "  New  Jerusa- 
lem," to  behold  the  miraculous  wonders  that  busy  ru- 
mor reported  to  be  of  daily  occurrence,  and  to  worship 
under  the  eye  of  the  prophet  of  the  "Latter  Day 
Saints."  Rigdon's  reputation  lifted  it  at  once  into 
notice.  New  members,  with  incredible  haste,  were 
solemnly  ordained  to  the  eldership  by  the  high 
priests,  and  sent  out  every-where  to  propagate  the 
faith.  Their  gravity  and  apparent  candor,  coupled 
with  a  degree  of  ignorance  which  was  ostentatiously 
paraded  as  evidence  that  they  were  not  deceivers, 
gave  them  great  credit  with  a  superstitious  class  of 
people  who  are  ever  ready  to  be  duped  by  supernat- 
ural pretension. 

Though  coming  into  Ohio  first  among  the  disci- 
ples, and  introduced  to  their  attention  in  a  well- 
planned  and  artful  manner,  very  few  of  the  leading 
members  were  for  a  moment  deceived.  After  its 
first  approach,  it  boasted  of  few  converts  from  any 
of  our  churches.  Rigdon,  Pratt  and  Orson  Hyde, 
the  last  two  young  and  but  little  known,  were  the 
only  preachers  who  gave  it  countenance. 

The  opposition  to  it  was  quick  on  its  feet,  in  rank, 
and  doing  effective  work  to  check  the  imposture. 
J.  J.  Moss,  at  the  time  a  young  school-teacher  in  the 
place,  pelted  them,  but  not  with  grass.  Isaac  Moore 
stood  up,  and  became  a  shield  to  many.  The  vigi- 
lance of  the  Clapps  prevented  any  serious  inroads  into 
the  church  of  Mentor.  Collins  forbade  its  approach 
to  Chardon,  and  it  merely  skulked  around  its  hills. 
Alexander  P.  Jones  was  there  also,  young,  shrewd, 
and  skilled.    In  many  an  encounter  he  was  left  with- 


2l6  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

out  a  foe.  But  the  misfortune  governing  the  case 
was  that  many  people,  victims  of  excitement  and 
credulity,  and  taught  in  nearly  all  pulpits  to  pray 
for  faith,  now  found  themselves  met  on  their  own 
grounds,  and  so  finding  an  emotion  or  impulse  an- 
swerable to  an  expected  response  from  heaven,  dared 
not  dispute  the  answer  to  their  own  prayers,  and 
were  hurried  into  the  vortex.  The  reason  the  delu- 
sion made  little  progress  among  the  Disciples,  save 
only  at  Kirtland,  where  the  way  for  it  was  paved  by 
the  common-stock  principle,  is  to  be  found  in  the 
cardinal  principle  every-where  taught  and  accepted 
among  them,  that  faith  is  founded  on  testimony.  This 
is  the  law  of  faith,  both  in  things  divine  and  human. 
This  fundamental  principle  of  the  u  current  reforma- 
tion," so  rational,  as  well  as  so  scriptural,  was  every- 
where proclaimed  and  accepted  among  the  disciples. 
It  constitutes  the  divergent  truth  lying  at  the  basis 
of  their  views  of  conversion,  and  by  which  they  are, 
on  that  subject,  distinguished  from  other  bodies  of 
religious  people.  They  never  "pray  for  faith,"  since 
"  faith  comes  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of 
God."  Having  obtained  faith  by  the  appropriate  tes- 
timony, they  pray,  in  the  exercise  of  that  faith,  for 
all  the  rightful  objects  of  petition. 

No  marvel,  then,  that  when  the  Mormon  preacher 
approached  a  disciple,  with  the  proposition  to  pray 
for  a  sign,  or  evidence  of  the  truth  of  his  system,  he 
was  met  with  an  intelligent  refusal  so  to  "  tempt  the 
Lord  his  God." 

The  venerable  Thomas  Campbell,  hearing  of  the 
defection  of  Rigdon  and  the  progress  this  silly  delu- 
sion was  making,  came  quickly  to  the  front.  He 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


217 


spent  much  of  the  winter  in  Mentor  and  vicinity. 
His  wise  counsels  and  great  weight  of  influence  in- 
terposed an  effectual  barrier  against  its  encroachments. 
He  addressed  a  communication  to  Rigdon  so  firm, 
so  fatherly  and  characteristic,  that  the  reader  shall 
have  the  pleasure  of  perusing  it.  Its  great  length 
will  apologize  for  the  omission  of  a  portion  of  it. 
Soon  after  his  return  to  Kirtland,  Rigdon  fulminated 
a  pompous  challenge  to  the  world  to  disprove  the  new 
Bible.    On  this  Mr.  Campbell  wrote  him,  as  follows: 

"Mentor,  February  4,  1831. 

"Mr.  Sidney  Rigdon, 

"Dear  Sir  : — It  may  seem  strange,  that  instead  of  a  con- 
fidential and  friendly  visit,  after  so  long  an  absence,  I 
should  thus  address,  by  letter,  one  whom  for  many  years 
I  have  considered  not  only  as  a  courteous  and  benevolent 
friend,  but  as  a  beloved  brother  and  fellow-laborer  in  the 
gospel ;  but,  alas  !  how  changed,  how  fallen  !  Neverthe- 
less, I  should  now  have  visited  you,  as  formerly,  could  I 
conceive  that  my  so  doing  would  answer  the  important 
purpose,  both  to  ourselves  and  to  the  public,  to  which  we 
both  stand  pledged,  from  the  conspicuous  and  important 
stations  we  occupy — you  as  the  professed  disciple  and  pub- 
lic teacher  of  the  infernal  book  of  Mormon,  and  I  as  a 
professed  disciple  and  public  teacher  of  the  supernal  book 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  of  our  Lord  and  Savior 
Jesus  Christ,  which  you  now  say  is  superceded  by  the  book 
of  Mormon — is  become  a  dead  letter ;  so  dead  that  the  be- 
lief and  obedience  of  it,  without  the  reception  of  the  lat- 
ter, is  no  longer  available  for  salvation.  To  the  disproof 
of  this  assertion,  I  understand  you  to  defy  the  world.  I 
here  use  the  epithets  infernal  and  supernal  in  their  primary 
and  literal  meaning,  the  former  signifying  from  beneath, 
the  latter  from  above,  both  of  which  are  truly  applied,  if 

19 


218 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  respective  authors  may  be  accredited ;  of  the  later  of 
which,  however,  I  have  no  doubt.  But,  my  dear  sir,  sup- 
posing you  as  sincere  in  your  present,  as  in  your  former 
profession,  neither  yourself,  your  friends,  nor  the  world 
are  bound  to  consider  you  as  more  infallible  in  your  latter 
than  in  your  former  confidence,  any  further  than  you  can 
render  good  and  intelligible  reasons  for  your  present  cer- 
tainty. This,  I  understand  from  your  declaration  on  last 
Lord's  day,  you  are  abundantly  prepared  and  ready  to  do. 
I,  therefore,  as  in  duty  bound,  accept  the  challenge,  and  shall 
hold  myself  in  readiness,  if  the  Lord  permit,  to  meet  you 
publicly,  in  any  place,  either  in  Mentor  or  Kirtland,  or 
in  any  of  the  adjoining  towns  that  may  appear  most  eligi- 
ble for  the  accommodation  of  the  public.  The  sooner 
the  investigation  takes  place  the  better  for  all  concerned. 

"The  proposition  that  I  have  assumed,  and  which  I 
mean  to  assume  and  defend  against  Mormonism  and  every 
other  ism  that  has  been  assumed  since  the  Christian  era, 
is  the  all-sufficiency  and  the  alone-sufficiency  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  vulgarly  called 
the  Bible,  to  make  every  intelligent  believer  wise  to  salva- 
tion, thoroughly  furnished  for  any  good  work.  This  prop- 
osition, clearly  and  fully  established,  as  I  believe  it  most 
certainly  can  be,  we  have  no  more  need  for  Quakerism, 
Shakerism,  Wilkinsonianism,  Buchanism,  Mormonism,  or 
any  other  ism,  than  we  have  for  three  eyes,  three  ears, 
three  hands,  or  three  feet,  in  order  to  see,  hear,  work,  or 
walk.  This  proposition  I  shall  illustrate  and  confirm,  by 
showing — 

"  i,  That  the  declarations,  invitations  and  promises  of  the 
gospel,  go  to  confer  upon  the  obedient  believer  the  great- 
est possible  privileges,  both  here  and  hereafter,  that  our 
nature  is  capable  of  enjoying. 

"  2.  That  there  is  not  a  virtue  that  can  happify,  or  adorn 
the  human  character,  nor  a  vice  that  can  abase  and  dis- 
happify,  which  human  heart  can  conceive,  or  human  lan- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


219 


guage  can  express,  that  is  not  most  clearly  commanded  or 
forbidden  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

"  3.  That  there  are  no  greater  motives  that  can  possibly 
be  expressed  or  conceived,  to  enforce  obedience,  or  dis- 
courage and  prevent  disobedience,  than  the  Scriptures  most 
clearly  and  unequivocably  exhibit. 

"  These  propositions  being  proved,  every  thing  is  proved 
that  can  effect  our  happiness  here  or  hereafter." 

He  next  tells  Mr.  Rigdon  the  course  he  proposes 
to  pursue  in  exposing  the  claims  of  Mormonism : 

1.  By  examining  the  character  of  its  author  and  his  ac- 
complices ; 

2.  Expose  their  pretensions  to  miraculous  gifts,  and  the 
gift  of  tongues ;  and  will  test  them  in  three  or  four  for- 
eign languages ; 

3.  Expose  their  assertion,  that  the  authority  for  adminis- 
tering baptism  was  lost  for  fourteen  hundred  years  till  re- 
stored by  the  new  prophet,  by  showing  it  to  be  a  contra- 
diction to  Matt,  xvi :  18  ; 

4.  That  the  pretended  duty  of  "  common  property  M  is 
anti-scriptural,  and  a  fraud  upon  society  ; 

5.  That  re-baptizing  believers  is  making  void  the  law 
of  Christ ;  and  the  pretension  of  imparting  the  Holy 
Spirit  by  imposition  of  hands,  is  an  unscriptural  intrusion 
on  the  exclusive  prerogative  of  the  primary  apostles  ; 

6.  That  its  pretentious  visions,  humility  and  spiritual 
perfection,  are  nowise  superior  to  those  of  the  first  Shakers, 
Jemima  Wilkinson,  the  French  prophets,  etc. 

"  In  the  last  place  we  shall  examine  the  internal  evi- 
dence of  the  book  of  Mormon  itself,  pointing  out  its  evi- 
dent contradictions,  foolish  absurdities,  shameless  preten- 
sions to  antiquity,  restore  it  to  its  rightful  claimant  as  a 
production  beneath  contempt,  and  utterly  unworthy  the 
reception  of  a  school-boy." 

He  concludes: 


220 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


"  I  remain,  with  grateful  remembrances  of  the  past,  and 
best  wishes  for  the  future,  your  sincere  friend  and  humble 
servant,  Thomas  Campbell." 

Mr.  Rigdon  read  a  few  lines  of  this  communication, 
and  then  hastily  committed  it  to  the  flames ! 

Perhaps  in  no  place,  except  Kirtland,  did  the  doc- 
trines of  the  "  Latter  Day  Saints "  gain  a  more  per- 
manent footing  than  in  Hiram.  It  entrenched  itself 
there  so  strongly  that  its  leaders  felt  assured  of  the 
capture  of  the  town.  Rigdon's  former  popularity  in 
that  region  gave  wings  to  their  appeal,  and  many  peo- 
ple, not  avowed  converts,  were  under  a  spell  of  won- 
der at  the  strange  things  sounded  in  their  ears.  The 
following  communication  from  Bro.  Symonds  Ryder, 
living  in  the  midst  of  the  scenes  he  describes,  will  be 
read  with  interest,  especially  by  those  who  knew  the 
high  and  indubitable  integrity  of  the  writer : 

"  Hiram,  February  i,  1868. 

"  Dear  Bro.  Hayden  : 

.  .  To  give  particulars  of  the  Mormon  excitement  of 
1 83 1  would  require  a  volume — a  few  words  must  suffice.  It 
has  been  stated  that  from  the  year  1815  to  1835,  a  period 
of  twenty  years,  '  all  sorts  of  doctrine  by  all  sorts  of  preach- 
ers had  been  plead ; 1  and  most  of  the  people  of  Hiram 
had  been  disposed  to  turn  out  and  hear.  This  went  by 
the  specious  name  of  '  liberal.'  The  Mormons  in  Kirt- 
land, being  informed  of  this  peculiar  state  of  things,  were 
soon  prepared  for  the  onset. 

"In  the  winter  of  1831  Joseph  Smith,  with  others,  had 
an  appointment  in  the  south  school-house,  in  Hiram.  Such 
was  the  apparent  piety,  sincerity  and  humility  of  the 
speakers,  that  many  of  the  hearers  were  greatly  affected, 
and  thought  it  impossible  that  such  preachers  should  lie  in 
wait  to  deceive. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


221 


"During  the  next  spring  and  summer  several  converts 
were  made,  and  their  success  seemed  to  indicate  an  im- 
mediate triumph  in  Hiram.  But  when  they  went  to  Mis- 
souri to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  splendid  city  of  Zion, 
and  also  of  the  temple,  they  left  their  papers  behind. 
This  gave  their  new  converts  an  opportunity  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  internal  arrangement  of  their  church, 
which  revealed  to  them  the  horrid  fact  that  a  plot  was 
laid  to  take  their  property  from  them  and  place  it  under 
the  control  of  Joseph  Smith  the  prophet.  This  was  too 
much  for  the  Hiramites,  and  they  left  the  Mormonites 
faster  than  they  had  ever  joined  them,  and  by  fall  the  Mor- 
mon church  in  Hiram  was  a  very  lean  concern. 

"  But  some  who  had  been  the  dupes  of  this  deception, 
determined  not  to  let  it  pass  with  impunity;  and,  accord- 
ingly, a  company  was  formed  of  citizens  from  Shalersville, 
Garrettsville,  and  Hiram,  in  March,  1832,  and  proceeded 
to  headquarters  in  the  darkness  of  night,  and  took  Smith 
and  Rigdon  from  their  beds,  and  tarred  and  feathered 
them  both,  and  let  them  go.  This  had  the  desired  effect, 
which  was  to  get  rid  of  them.  They  soon  left  for  Kirt- 
land. 

"All  who  continued  with  the  Mormons,  and  had  any 
property,  lost  all ;  among  whom  was  John  Johnson,  one 
of  our  most  worthy  men ;  also,  Esq.  Snow,  of  Mantua, 
who  lost  two  or  three  thousand  dollars. 

"  Symonds  Ryder." 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  modern  imposture 
of  most  blasphemous  pretension,  is  before  the  world. 
It  is  not  a  little  curious  that  it  has  become  the  ground- 
work of  many  publications  and  much  romance.  A 
very  full  and  complete  history  of  it,  full  of  incident 
and  personal  allusion,  came  out  a  few  years  ago  in 
France,  in  two  elegant  volumes.  Its  research  is  mi- 
nute and  extensive,  giving  with  remarkable  accuracy 


222  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


and  fullness  sketches  of  many  leading  actors,  with 
accounts  of  the  religious  societies  from  which  they 
deflected.  A  copy  of  the  work  is  in  the  library  of 
Congress,  at  Washington,  as  I  learn  by  a  note  from 
Gen.  Garfield,  who  writes :  u  It  was  published  in 
French,  at  Paris,  in  i860,  and  about  the  same  time 
in  English,  in  London.  The  London  edition  is  en- 
titled '  A  Journey  to  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  by  Jules 
Remy  and  Julius  Brenchley/  It  is  published  at  Lon- 
don by  W.  Jeffs,  1$  Burlington  Arcade — imprint, 
1861." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


223 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Church  in  Chardon— Wm.  Collins— Pastors— The  Church  in 
Munson — Leading  Men — The  Cause  established  in  Burton. 

THE  Baptist  church  at  Chardon  was  formed  Oc- 
tober 1,  18 1 7.  On  the  eleventh  of  that  month 
the  church  met  in  the  court-house,  and  appointed 
Elders  Hank  and  Rider  to  represent  them  in  the 
Grand  River  Conference,  and  act  for  them  in  form- 
ing the  Grand  River  Association. 

Mr.  Campbell's  visit  to  Chardon  at  the  ministers' 
meeting,  June,  1824,  produced  a  marked  and  perma- 
nent effect.  The  ground  principles  of  all  this  grand 
movement — that  the  Bible  is  a  self-interpreting  book  ; 
that  it  is  not  to  be  interpreted  in  the  interests  of  any- 
party,  or  any  received  system  of  theology ;  that  a 
correct  and  faithful  use  of  it  would  lead  back  the  di- 
vided saints  into  the  original  apostolic  "  unity  of  the 
spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,"  a  glorious  consumma- 
tion, and  so  bring  about  the  long  prayed  for  union 
of  God's  people — these  views,  so  clear,  so  desira- 
ble, and  so  in  harmony  with  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
were  warmly  cherished  and  much  discussed.  Mr. 
Campbell's  "  Christian  Baptist,"  several  copies  of 
which  were  taken  and  critically  read,  kept  alive  the 
discussions,  and  added  very  much  to  the  power  and 
boldness  with  which  they  were  asserted  and  de- 
fended. Lucius  Smith  was  in  the  habit  of  taking 
his  copy  of  it  to  the  neighbors  and  reading  it  to 


224  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

them.  He  came  frequently  to  John  C.  Collins',  father 
of  Elder  Wm.  Collins,  who  was  brother-in-law  to  the 
brothers  King,  where  many  an  evening  was  profita- 
bly spent  in  searching  the  Scriptures.  It  must  not 
for  a  moment  be  supposed  that  the  truth  gained  an 
easy  victory.  So  far  from  it,  many  of  its  early  and 
life-long  supporters  arrayed  themselves  at  first 
against  the  alleged  innovations,  and  yielded  their 
opposition  only  when  they  could  withstand  no 
longer.  Zadok  and  George  King  were  among  the 
earliest  and  firmest  opponents. 

The  hymns  reflected  the  doctrine  of  the  day. 
There  were  few  more  popular  than  the  following :  — 

"  Awaked  by  Sinai's  awful  sound, 
My  soul  in  bonds  of  guilt  I  found, 

And  knew  not  where  to  go  ; 
Alas !  I  read  and  saw  it  plain 
The  sinner  must  be  born  again, 
Or  sink  to  endless  woe  !  " 

All  the  points  in  the  process  of  conversion  passed 
through  the  most  thorough  ordeal  of  analysis  and 
examination.  That  the  Law  of  Moses  was  ever  de- 
livered to  any  nation  but  the  Jews,  or  that  it  was 
ever  intended  to  bring  repentance,  was  questioned, 
doubted,  denied.  But  "  the  law  is  our  school-master 
to  bring  us  to  Christ,"  was  quoted  triumphantly  by 
preacher,  deacon,  and  disputant.  "  It  does  not  read 
so,"  says  one  in  the  audience.  "  Take  that  man  out, 
he  disturbs  the  meeting." 

Mrs.  Lucius  Smith  was  no  less  interested  than 
her  husband  in  the  clearer  views  of  gospel  light  ad- 
vocated in  the  M  Christian  Baptist."  She  was  a  Pres- 
byterian, a  person  of  clear  apprehension,  and  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


225 


much  independence  of  character.  She  saw  the  truth 
in  regard  to  the  law,  and  usually  replied  to  the  argu- 
ment by  quoting  correctly :  "  The  law  was  our 
school-master,"  and  asking,  "What  have  we,  under 
the  gospel,  to  do  with  the  law  ?"  Quoting  further  : 
"  The  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but  grace  and  truth 
came  by  Jesus  Christ."  The  people  were  walking 
on  the  sharp  edge  of  the  controversy  about  legal  and 
evangelical  repentance  ;  about  saving  faith,  evangel- 
ical faith,  historic  faith,  and  many  such  needless  dis- 
tinctions unknown  to  the  gospel,  and  which  served 
only  to  confuse  the  mind,  and  render  the  way  of  sal- 
vation a  mystery. 

Nathan  Porter,  who  not  long  before  had  come 
from  the  East,  young,  ardent,  ready  in  speech,  and 
ready  to  learn,  took  hold  with  fresh  avidity  of  the 
new  principles.  He  was  commended  for  ordination, 
and  was  formally  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, June,  1824.  He  was  prompt  to  publish  and 
defend  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  touching 
the  points  under  discussion,  little  caring  what  the 
doctrinal  standards  taught. 

William  Collins,  familiarly  known  as  "Elder  Col- 
lins," was  born  in  Enfield,  Connecticut,  September  24, 
1799,  but  brought  up  in  Suffield.  His  parents  were  Pres- 
byterians. When  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  an 
extensive  religious  awakening  arose  among  the  Baptists  in 
Suffield.  Many  turned  to  the  Lord,  and  young  Collins, 
in  the  language  of  that  day,  become  "hopefully  con- 
verted." Like  Timothy  of  Derbe  (Acts  xvi :  1)  he  began 
at  once  to  exercise  his  gift  of  exhortation.  His  zeal  im- 
pelled him  forward.  It  is  related  of  him  that  when  the 
tide  of  feeling  was  high  in  the  community,  he  arose  in  a 


226  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

crowded  evening  assembly,  and  stretching  both  arms  side- 
ways to  full  length,  he  cried  out :  "  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is 
passing  by!"  His  voice  was  full  and  clear,  and  the 
speech  produced  a  profound  sensation.  He  followed  with 
an  exhortation  twenty  minutes,  so  pertinent,  earnest,  and 
persuasive,  that  many  made  note  of  it  as  preluding  emi- 
nence in  the  Christian  ministry.  In  the  year  1816,  when 
he  was  some  seventeen  years  old,  his  father,  John  C.  Col- 
lins, emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Chardon.  John 
King,  father  of  Zadok,  George,  and  Harvey  King,  and 
father-in-law  of  John  C.  Collins,  had  removed  to  Chardon 
from  Connecticut  the  year  before,  and  settled  on  ' 1  King 
Street."  The  land  was  all  a  wilderness.  Teams  of  oxen 
and  horses  brought  their  families  and  their  few  necessary 
"goods"  all  the  way,  and  their  own  axes  underbrushed 
the  way  many  miles  for  their  wagons.  These  firm,  perse- 
vering men  brought  excellent  muscle  for  the  clearing  off 
of  the  forest,  and  laying  the  basis  of  the  agricultural 
wealth  of  the  country.  Their  moral  and  religious  prin- 
ciples, in  which  they  were  equally  heroic,  was  the  ground- 
work of  a  future  eminently  noble  society,  in  which  were 
secured  the  right  culture  and  development  of  their  chil- 
dren's children.  The  writer  of  these  memoirs  was  not 
born  out  of  due  time  to  see  and  converse  with  grandfather 
and  grandmother  King.  George  King,  long  an  elder  and 
active  member,  died  June  8,  1862,  at  nearly  sixty-nine 
years  of  age.  Harvey  King,  unexceptionable  in  upright- 
ness and  piety,  died  joyfully,  December  15,  1872,  at  sev- 
enty-five years;  while  "uncle"  Zadok  still  survives,  a 
veteran  of  three  generations,  like  a  tree  with  its  root  in 
one,  its  trunk  and  bloom  in  another,  and  its  ripe  fruit  in 
the  third. 

Wm.  Collins  was  employed  in  industrial  pursuits  for 
several  years.  In  the  winter  of  1821-2,  Chardon  was  vis- 
ited by  a  deep  religious  revival.  Elder  Warner  Goodall, 
of  Mentor,  was  the  mover  in  it,  a  man  of  plain,  broad 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


227 


common  sense,  of  no  mean  abilities,  widely  esteemed  for 
his  godly  behavior.  He  so  preached  that  a  large  part  of 
the  Presbyterian  membership  came  like  Jesus  the  blessed, 
and  exchanging  the  bowl  for  the  Jordan,  followed  their 
leader  into  it.  Collins  had  never  lost  the  impressions 
produced  in  old  Suffield.  He  came  also,  and  on  the  17th 
of  March,  1822,  he  was  baptized  by  Elder  Goodall. 
Again  his  tongue  was  loosed.  He  was  young,  ardent,  de- 
votedly pious,  of  brilliant  imagination,  commanding  a 
copious  flow  of  language,  and  of  manners  that  awakened 
great  hopes  of  his  future  usefulness.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Baptist  church,  November  3,  1822,  when  about 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  was  warmly  commended 
to  prepare  for  the  ministry  in  their  theological  school  at 
Hamilton,  New  York.  Elder  Rufus  Rider,  the  Baptist 
minister,  was  active  in  securing  these  advantages  for 
him.  This  outlay  of  means  yielded  a  rich  harvest ;  though 
probably  not  precisely  in  the  channel  of  the  counsels 
which  urged  him  to  Hamilton — the  only  difference,  yet 
important,  consisting  in  the  fact  that  he  returned  to 
preach  the  gospel  as  he  read  it  in  the  New  Testament,  not 
as  it  is  interpreted  in  the  confession  of  faith. 

When  he  returned  from  college  he  found  the  commu- 
nity all  alive,  and  agitated  with  these  doctrinal  discus- 
sions. With  a  readiness  of  insight  possessed  by  few 
men,  and  with  the  promptitude  and  frankness  for  which 
he  was  ever  distinguished,  he  examined,  accepted,  and 
began  openly  to  defend  the  Scripture  models  as  the  true 
standard  of  conversion,  rather  than  the  experiences  of 
men  formed  as  they  are  by  the  standards  of  their  respect- 
ive systems.  In  this  progress  of  religious  intelligence  the 
main  portion  of  the  church  were  with  him.  He  was  duly 
set  apart  by  ordination  to  the  life  work  of  the  ministry 
of  the  Word,  October  26,  1826. 

Just  the  month  previous  to  his  ordination,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Haynes.    In  her  he  found  a 


228  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Christian  companion,  whose  life  flowed  evenly  with  his. 
They  were  one  in  life ;  in  death  they  were  not  long  sep- 
arated. Their  demise  was  only  three  weeks  apart.  He 
fell  asleep  in  Chardon,  June  26,  i860,  aged  sixty  years; 
and  on  the  twentieth  day  of  July,  twenty-four  days  after, 
she  followed  him  to  their  final  reward.  The  funeral  serv- 
ices of  both  of  them  were  performed  by  Bro.  J.  H. 
Jones,  in  presence  of  a  great  concourse  of  weeping  and 
admiring  friends.  Few  persons  ever  passed  to  their 
graves  more  universally  respected  and  lamented. 

Collins  won  all  to  him  by  his  kind,  genial,  social  na- 
ture. He  was  very  quick  in  discernment,  abounded  in 
humor,  and  was  highly  entertaining,  either  as  guest  or 
host,  by  his  wit,  anecdote,  and  unfailing  supply  of  sensi- 
ble and  instructive  conversation.  One  less  hopeful  would 
have  sank  down  under  the  hardships  and  lack  of  compen- 
sation, an  experience  in  which  he  had  his  full  share  in 
common  with  the  generation  of  preachers  who  founded 
and  built  up  the  churches.  He  did  not  exceed  a  medium 
height,  was  finely  formed,  his  countenance  comely  and 
benevolent.  Few  men  ever  preached  so  many  funerals. 
His  abundant,  practical  common  sense,  his  excellent 
vocal  powers  and  fluent  speech,  his  firmness  of  principle, 
activity  in  the  gospel,  his  love  of  men,  and  devotion  to 
Christ  as  his  servant,  made  him  universally  acceptable, 
and  with  very  many  a  favorite. 

-For  thirty-four  years  he  proclaimed  the  gospel.  Most 
of  this  time  he  served  as  pastor  of  the  church.  In  1853, 
J.  W.  Errett  was  settled  in  the  church,  and  served  three 
years.  James  Encell  followed  him ;  then  R.  Chapman, 
who  died  there.  Orange  Higgins  succeeded  him  for  two 
years.  J.  W.  Ingram  next.  After  him  W.  S.  Hayden, 
two  years;  then  R.  S.  Groves. 

For  many  years  the  church  has  had  the  benefit  of  the 
invaluable  life  and  labors  of  Bro.  Dan.  R.  King,  who,  as 
a  preacher,  the  peer  of  any  of  them,  has  borne  burdens 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


229 


when  others  laid  them  down.  At  intervals,  when  no 
preacher  was  employed,  he  has  himself  blown  the  silver 
trumpet,  and,  li  without  murmuring  and  complaining," 
has  stood  always  ready  to  serve  for  Christ.  Present  El- 
ders, D.  R.  King  and  C.  D.  Spencer;  deacons,  Henry 
Bartlett,  L.  G.  King,  O.  C.  Smith.  Seth  Sawyer,  clerk. 
Membership,  about  two  hundred. 

The  Church  of  Christ  in  Munson. 

Both  in  its  origin  and  subsequent  support  this 
church  is  much  indebted  to  the  faithful  William  Col- 
lins. Living  near  by,  and  being  extensively  ac- 
quainted, and  respected  by  all,  he  was  a  pillar  of 
strength  to  the  cause.  The  first  visible  awakening 
was  in  January,  1839,  by  Bro.  J.  P.  Robison,  who 
preached  one  Lord's  day,  and  baptized  Miss  Jenett 
Hamilton.  He  visited  them  again  in  the  spring, 
added  several,  and  left  a  church  of  twenty-two  mem- 
bers ;  with  Alonzo  Randall  and  Orrin  Gates  as  el- 
ders ;  and  Milo  Fowler  and  Halsey  Abrams,  dea- 
cons. The  visits  of  E.  Williams,  W.  Collins,  and 
Dexter  Otis  kept  the  fire  alive.  In  June,  1840, 
brethren  Bentley,  Collins,  and  Robison,  conducted 
a  meeting  with  seventeen  additions.  In  March, 
1 841,  J.  Hartzel  came  among  them.  The  Presbyter- 
ian church  was  obtained,  and  a  large  hearing  secured. 
His  lucid  statements  and  able  defense  of  the  truth 
won  confidence  and  converts.  In  five  days,  twenty- 
one  souls  yielded  to  Christ.  Being  compelled  to 
leave,  the  church  sent  Adolphus  Morse,  who  was 
then  preaching  there,  to  Mantua  for  A.  S.  Hayden, 
to  carry  the  work  forward.  The  first  evening  the 
house  was  filled  with  people,  who  had  waded  through 
blinding  storms  and  deep  snow — such  was  the  inter- 


23O  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

est  in  the  public  mind.  Rev.  Mr.  Pepoon,  the  Pres- 
byterian minister  in  the  place,  a  man  clearly  honest 
in  his  convictions,  but  blinded  by  prejudice,  came  to 
hear  and  to  oppose.  Honor  to  the  man,  who,  while 
opposing  what  he  conceives  to  be  dangerous  error 
hath  yet  an  honest  heart  to  listen  and  to  learn. 
Here  was  an  example :  This  gentleman  was  hostile  ; 
but  years  afterwards  he  became  calm,  and  worshiped, 
and  helped  on  the  work.  At  this  visit  of  three 
days,  nine  more  were  baptized  into  Christ. 

On  the  20th  of  May  following  came  Henry. 
His  royal  blade  of  tried  temper  was  never  drawn  but 
in  victory.  He  staid  from  Friday  till  Monday,  the 
time  of  a  long  meeting  then  ;  produced  an  immense 
interest,  added  a  number,  and  left  the  church  all 
alive.  There  occurred  a  passage  at  arms  between 
him  and  Rev.  Pepoon,  which  was  rather  hot  than 
healing  ;  but  the  times  then  permitted  some  things 
over  which  these  days  would  throw  the  veil  of  char- 
itable oblivion. 

In  September  following  Hartzel  returned,  bringing 
Bro.  C.  E.  Vanvoorhis  with  him.  But  the  meeting- 
house was  now  closed.  A  store-room  just  erected 
was  fitted  up,  and  filled  with  hearers  ;  of  whom  some 
were  obedient  to  the  faith.  W.  A.  Lillie,  a  school- 
teacher and  student  at  law,  whose  inquiring  mind  had 
been  tossed  on  the  ocean  every-where  agitated  by  op- 
posing winds  of  doctrine,  heard  Hartzel  with  delighted 
relief  of  mind,  as  he  saw  in  his  exhibition  of  the  gos- 
pel a  rational  system  which  he  could  embrace  under 
the  laws  of  evidence  without  violence  to  common 
sense.  He  immediately  confessed  his  Savior.  As 
in  the  case  of  Paul,  so  in  his,  the  law  was  aban- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  23  I 

doned  for  a  higher  and  nobler  pleading.  He  became 
a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  labors  have  long 
been  fruitful,  both  in  converts  and  counsels.  The 
churches  of  Munson,  Chester,  Russell,  and  Mogadore, 
especially,  as  well  as  many  others,  have  received 
much  aid  by  his  judicious  instructions. 

Not  only  he,  but  Bro.  Orrin  Gates  came  up  to 
usefulness  in  this  church  of  Munson.  Gates  was 
born  in  Windham  County,  Connecticut,  May  17, 
18 1 5.  He  was  brought  up  among  the  Methodists. 
He  sought  earnestly  among  that  people  the  joys  of 
salvation  ;  but  he  failed  to  obtain  under  their  teach- 
ings the  anxiously-sought  blessing — the  evidence  of 
pardon.  He  heard  on  King  Street,  Chardon,  the 
rapid  Henry ;  and  his  interest  grew  to  astonishment 
as  he  listened  to  the  unadorned  proclaimer  of  the 
gospel.  The  King  brothers  there,  and  Collins,  were 
faithful  with  him,  and  he  was  compelled  to  investi- 
gate. The  very  plainness  of  the  gospel  stumbled 
him.  He  fell  sick ;  and  his  conscience  so  re- 
proached him  with  neglected  duty,  that  he  resolved 
to  obey  the  gospel  the  first  opportunity.  This  was 
afforded  him  in  the  great  yearly  meeting  in  Euclid, 
September,  1837. 

His  position  as  elder  of  the  church,  to  which  he 
was  called  soon  after  its  organization,  compelled  him 
to  take  a  public  stand,  and  called  him  to  exercise  his 
good,  natural  gifts  of  exhortation. 

The  outburst  of  "  Come-outer-ism "  during  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1848,  was  a  sore  trial  to  the 
church  in  Munson — good  men  staggered,  and  many 
were  swept  away  by  it.  His  associate  elder  bowed 
under  it.    He  girded  up  his  soul,  and  aided  much  to 


232  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


steady  the  ship  over  the  rocking  billows.  It  was 
long  before  the  dissidents  resumed  their  seats  in 
the  congregation. 

His  preaching  was  now  no  longer  confined  to  a 
local  congregation.  In  the  winter  of  1854,  he  was 
formally  ordained  in  the  church  of  Chardon,  of 
which  he  had  become  a  member,  by  brethren  Isaac 
Errett,  John  W.  Errett,  William  Collins,  and  Zadok 
King,  the  time-honored  elder  of  that  church.  His 
field  enlarged.  He  was  the  chief  agent  in  founding 
the  churches  in  Trumbull,  Denmark,  and  Harpers- 
field,  Ashtabula  County,  and  Montville,  Geauga 
County.  His  work  in  Munson,  Hartsgrove,  Bloom- 
field,  and  Bazetta  will  be  long  remembered.  In  Ba- 
zetta  he  had  an  ingathering  of  fifty  souls  at  one 
meeting,  and  afterwards  lived  among  them  eight 
years. 

In  1842,  the  church  in  Munson  had  acquired  suf- 
ficient strength  to  erect  a  good  house.  Bro.  Hartzel 
came  to  the  dedication  of  it  in  November.  He 
preached  with  such  power  that  fifteen  turned  to  God, 
among  whom  were  Jas.  G.  Coleman,  and  Henry, 
Thomas,  and  James  Carroll.  William  Hayden,  re- 
turning from  a  tour  of  preaching  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  arrived  in  the  midst  of  the  meeting,  and 

preached  from  the  words  of  the  prophet,  "  to 

this  man  will  I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  poor,  and 
of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth  at  my  word!'  Isa. 
lxvi :  2.  In  his  sermon  he  urged  strongly  the  needs 
and  uses  of  the  Sunday-school. 

A  great  move  was  made  among  the  people  in 
March,  1843,  by  Dr.  Robison.  He  began  meeting 
the  twenty-fourth  of  that  month,  and  in  ten  days  he 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


233 


had  brought  seventy-six  souls  into  the  kingdom. 
Elder  Collins  stood  closely  by  his  side,  and  the  pres< 
ence  and  prayers  of  Otis  the  meek,  a  part  of  the 
time,  helped  forward  the  work. 

No  marvel  that  in  June  following  this  flood  tide, 
when  the  yearly  meeting  for  Geauga  County  was  to 
be  held  in  this  church,  Bro.  Robison  was  the  picked 
standard-bearer  for  that  occasion — the  church  se- 
lecting A.  S.  Hayden  as  his  associate ;  these  breth- 
ren, with  those  residing  near  by,  discoursed  during 
the  four  days  to  the  great  congregation.  There 
were  twelve  conversions  at  that  time. 

During  this  year,  Dexter  Otis  was  employed  by 
the  church  to  preach  one-fourth  of  the  time  for  fifty 
dollars. 

The  brotherhood  here  have  had  the  labors  of 
most  of  the  preachers.  Besides  the  names  already 
given,  men  who  have  been  much  among  them,  we 
mention  Bro.  M.  S.  Clapp,  E.  B.  Violl,  and  Ransom 
Storm ;  nor  should  William  Hayden  have  been 
omitted  as  among  the  earlier  and  most  efficient  fac- 
tors in  these  results.  A.  B.  Green  also,  and  Wash- 
ington O'Connor  have  gathered  stars  there  for  Im- 
manuel's  crown.  Alvin  Waite  preached  statedly  for 
some  time,  alternating  with  Bro.  Otis. 

Among  the  home  forces,  much  credit  is  due  to 
Thomas  Carroll,  who  has  long  been  at  the  helm. 
His  patience,  faithfulness,  and  good  judgment  are 
not  easily  overrated.  Milo  Fowler  left  his  post  as 
deacon  and  finance  agent  many  days  ago  ;  but  he 
held  it  faithfully  till  his  hand  was  enclasped  by  the 
touch  of  that  of  the  angel  who  bore  him  to  para- 
dise. James  G.  Coleman  also,  for  many  years  an 
20 


234  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

elder  and  counselor,  and  who,  by  preaching  and 
teaching  kept  the  membership  together,  will  never 
be  forgotten. 

No  man  has  been  more  faithful,  or  more  useful 
than  Allen  Harper,  one  of  the  first  members  ;  he  has 
borne  the  burden-  at  all  times  so  faithfully  and  un- 
complainingly that  he  stands  among  the  first  in  the 
gratitude  of  the  church.  And  many  others,  who, 
with  equal  fidelity  and  perseverance  have  stood  firmly 
by  the  cause  for  many  years,  doubtless  have  their 
names  graven  on  the  palms  of  Immanuel's  hands. 

Burton. 

From  Chardon,  as  from  the  church  of  the  Thessa- 
lonians,  the  "  word  of  the  Lord  sounded"  out  into 
surrounding  townships.  In  the  year  1835,  John  A. 
Ford,  of  Burton,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Eliza  Ann  Ford, 
attended  a  meeting  on  King  Street,  in  Chardon  ; 
and  hearing,  they  "  believed  and  were  baptized"  by 
Bro.  Collins.  Her  sister,  Adaline  Barnes,  afterward 
Mrs.  Hoadley,  made  her  confession  of  Christ  the 
same  time.  Mr.  Ford  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  of 
Presbyterian  connections,  and  a  member  of  the  most 
influential  family,  and  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of 
Burton.  His  brother,  Seabury  Ford,  Esq.,  was  sub- 
sequently chosen  by  the  suffrages  of  the  people  to 
be  Governor  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Mrs.  Ford  was  a  woman  of  warm  friendships,  of 
quick  and  correct  perceptions,  and  by  her  decision 
and  energy,  she  was  a  great  help  to  her  husband  in 
the  effort  to  bring  to  their  neighbors  the  knowledge 
of  the  gospel  as  preached  by  the  apostles.  Almost 
the  whole  town  was  under  the  influence  of  the  Pres- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


235 


byterian  church,  and  the  numerous  and  wealthy 
family  of  the  Fords  were  its  chief  support.  This 
deflection  from  ancestral  faith  by  John  and  his  wife, 
was  looked  upon  as  close  akin  to  a  family  reproach, 
and  many  times  they  were  made  to  feel  the  slights 
and  taunts  of  offended  sect  pride,  as  a  penalty  for 
their  independence  and  the  legitimate  exercise  of 
their  rights  of  conscience. 

Wishing  the  gospel,  as  they  now  plainly  saw  it,  to 
be  heard  by  their  neighbors,  they  invited  Collins  to 
come  and  preach,  who  promptly  responded  to  the 
call.  In  1838,  Ford  moved  from  his  farm  to  the 
center  of  the  town,  where,  in  his  new  house,  with 
better  accommodations,  the  people  came  to  hear,  and 
there  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  Elder  Collins  con- 
stituted the  church,  consisting  of  twenty  members. 

Bro.  John  A.  Ford  and  Bro.  Joseph  Woodward,  a 
man  of  much  religious  worth,  formerly  a  Baptist, 
were  very  appropriately  intrusted  with  the  over- 
sight of  the  young  community.  These  men  would 
be  entitled  to  respect  for  their  sound  judgment  and 
weight  of  character  in  any  community.  Their  fami- 
lies heartily  co-operated  with  them  in  maintaining 
the  ground  under  great  disadvantages  for  many 
years.  Bro.  Henry  Pifer  was  the  deacon.  After  a 
time,  Bro.  Hoadley,  brother-in-law  to  Bro.  Ford,  lo- 
cated in  Burton,  whose  firmness  and  ability  in  coun- 
sel and  address,  with  the  musical  talent  of  his  amia- 
ble companion,  were  no  small  assistance. 

The  church  was  sustained  by  the  occasional  and 
sometimes  stated  help  of  the  preachers — Collins, 
Williams,  Hartzel,  Belding,  the  Haydens,  and  others — 
so  that  thev  became  well  established  in  their  own 


236  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

neat  and  comfortable  meeting-house.  Soon  after  the 
establishment  of  the  Eclectic  Institute  at  Hiram, 
this  church  obtained  help  from  that  source.  It  never 
grew  to  be  large,  but  for  twenty  years  conversions 
and  other  accessions  repaired  the  loss  by  disinte- 
gration of  various  kinds.  At  length,  when  these  two 
leading  families  began  to  separate,  the  congregation 
declined,  and  their  dismemberment  eventuated  in 
that  of  the  church.    In  1858  they  ceased  to  meet. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


237 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  church  in  Mantua — D.  Atwater — Churches  in  Hiram  and  Gar- 
rettsville — Biography  of  Ryder — Origin  of  the  Eclectic  In- 
stitute. 

A BAPTIST  church  was  formed  in  Nelson,  July 
30,  1808,  called  "Bethesda."  It  was  the  first 
church  of  any  "  order "  in  the  county  of  Portage. 
Its  members  resided  in  Nelson,  Hiram  and  Mantua. 
It  was  gathered  chiefly  through  the  influence  of  Dea- 
con John  Rudolph,  who,  in  1806,  moved  from  Mary- 
land to  Hiram  township,  and  settled  near  the  site  of 
Garrettsville.  Of  this  church,  William  West  was 
pastor  for  a  few  years.  He  was  followed  by  Thomas 
Miller,  a  warm-hearted  man,  who  brought  in  converts. 
Darwin  Atwater,  of  Mantua,  was  baptized  by  him  in 
February,  1822.  The  principles  of  reform  breaking 
out  about  this  time,  the  dismemberment  of  the  Be- 
thesda church  followed. 

That  portion  of  the  members  who  maintained  the 
sufficiency  of  the  revealed  will  of  God  for  all  pur- 
poses of  "  faith  and  practice,"  formed  a  church  in 
Mantua,  January  27,  1827,  "  on  the  principle  of  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  obedience  to 
him  as  taught  in  his  word."  It  consisted  at  first  of 
nine  members,  viz :  John  Rudolph,  John  Rudolph, 
Jr.,  Zeb  Rudolph,  James  Rudolph,  Darwin  Atwater, 
Laura  Atwater,  Cleona  Rudolph,  Elizabeth  Rudolph 
and  Patta  Blair. 


238  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


The  first  year  eighteen  members  were  added,  in- 
cluding Seth  Sanford.  Seth  Harmon,  Lyman  Hunt 
and  Mrs.  Judge  Atwater.  Sidney  Rigdon  was  their 
stated,  though  not  constant,  minister.  In  February, 
1828,  soon  after  his  great  meeting  in  Warren,  Scott 
visited  Nelson,  Hiram  and  Mantua,  and  many  turned 
to  the  Lord. 

In  May,  of  this  year,  the  church  was  favored  with 
a  visit  from  "father"  Thomas  Campbell.  The  infant 
cause  derived  great  advantages  from  this  visit.  He 
"  set  in  order  the  things  that  were  wanting,"  con- 
firmed the  faith  of  the  members,  and  new  converts 
were  added  to  the  congregation.  Under  his  counsels, 
brethren  Zeb  Rudolph  and  Darwin  Atwater,  young 
men  of  commendable  gifts,  studious  and  of  blameless 
reputation,  were  chosen  by  the  church,  and  set  apart 
as  "teachers;"  and  John  Rudolph  Jr.,  and  Lyman 
Hunt  were  appointed  deacons.  This  was  done  Sat- 
urday, May  24,  1828.  The  next  day,  Elder  Camp- 
bell preached  in  a  barn  belonging  to  Jotham  Atwater, 
to  a  large  concourse  of  people.  Symonds  Ryder,  of 
Hiram,  whose  mind  had  been  tossed  with  conflicting 
doubts,  seeking  to  find  the  "  right  way  of  the  Lord," 
heard  him  with  fixed  attention,  and  his  difficulties 
being  all  removed,  he  confessed  the  Lord  that  day, 
and  was  baptized  by  Bro.  Reuben  Ferguson. 

The  converts  increasing  in  Hiram  and  Nelson,  a 
petition  for  the  formation  of  a  new  church  in  Hiram 
was  laid  before  the  congregation  ;  which,  being 
granted,  thirty-seven  were  dismissed  for  that  purpose, 
and  organized  April  18,  1829.  Another  portion  were 
dismissed  to  unite  in  Shalersville.  Gamaliel  H.  Kent, 
and  his  wife  Anna  E.  Kent,  took  letters  to  Aurora. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


239 


The  church  in  Mantua  was  thus  much  reduced,  but 
her  light  has  never  gone  out. 

The  following  statement  from  the  hand  of  that  pil- 
lar of  truth  and  justice,  Bro.  D.  Atwater,  just  lately 
(May  28,  1873)  laid  down  to  rest,  will  be  read  with 
special  interest : 

Mantua  Station,  April  26,  1873. 
Dear  Bro.  A,  S.  Hayden  : 

....  The  infant  church  at  Mantua  was  left  small  and 
inexperienced.  I  was  the  only  one  who  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  take  an  active  public  part.  There  were  Bro. 
Seth  San  ford,  and  Bro.  Seth  Harmon,  both  very  young  in 
the  Christian  profession,  with  a  number  of  excellent  sis- 
ters. In  our  weak  state,  in  the  midst  of  so  much  opposi- 
tion, we  were  poorly  prepared  to  take  care  of  the  church. 
March  21,  1830,  I  was  ordained  elder,  (in  my  youth),  and 
Bro.  Seth  Harmon  was  ordained  deacon — Adamson  Bent- 
ley  officiating. 

At  this  time,  Oliver  Snow,  an  old  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  united  with  us.  His  talents,  age  and  experi- 
ence, ought  to  have  been  very  useful  to  us,  but  they  were 
more  frequently  exercised  in  finding  fault  with  what  we 
»  attempted  to  do,  than  in  assisting  us.  This  only  increased 
our  embarrassment.  Soon  after  this,  the  great  Mormon 
defection  came  on  us.  Sidney  Rigdon  preached  for  us, 
and  notwithstanding  his  extravagantly  wild  freaks,  he  was 
held  in  high  repute  by  many.  For  a  few  months  before 
his  professed  conversion  to  Mormonism,  it  was  noticed 
that  his  wild,  extravagant  propensities  had  been-  more 
marked.  That  he  knew  before  of  the  coming  of  the  book 
of  Mormon  is  to  me  certain,  from  what  he  said  the  first 
of  his  visits  at  my  father's,  some  years  before.  He  gave 
a  wonderful  description  of  the  mounds  and  other  antiqui- 
ties found  in  some  parts  of  America,  and  said  that  they 


24O  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


must  have  been  made  by  the  Aborigines.  He  said  there 
was  a  book  to  be  published  containing  an  account  of  those 
things.  He  spoke  of  these  in  his  eloquent,  enthusiastic 
style,  as  being  a  thing  most  extraordinary.  Though  a 
youth  then,  I  took  him  to  task  for  expending  so  much  en- 
thusiasm on  such  a  subject,  instead  of  things  of  the  gos- 
pel. In  all  my  intercourse  with  him  afterward  he  never 
spoke  of  antiquities,  or  of  the  wonderful  book  that  should 
give  account  of  them,  till  the  book  of  Mormon  really  was 
published.  He  must  have  thought  I  was  not  the  man  to 
reveal  that  to. 

In  the  admiration  of  Sidney  Rigdon,  Oliver  Snow  and 
his  family  shared  very  largely ;  so,  when  he  came  with  his 
pretended  humility,  to  lay  all  at  the  feet  of  Mormonism, 
it  caused  a  great  shock  to  the  little  church  at  Mantua. 
The  force  of  this  shock  was  like  an  earthquake,  when 
Symonds  Ryder,  Ezra  Booth  and  many  others,  submitted 
to  the  "New  Dispensation." 

Eliza  Snow,  afterward  so  noted  as  the  "Poetess"  among 
the  Mormons,  led  the  way.  Her  parents  and  sister,  and 
three  or  four  other  members  of  the  church,  were  finally 
carried  away.    Two  of  these  were  afterward  restored. 

From  this  shock  the  church  slowly  recovered.  Bro. 
Ryder  returned  and  exposed  Mormonism  in  its  true  light. 
The  Mormon  character  soon  exposed  itself. 

Marcus  Bosworth  continued  to  preach  for  us.  Symonds 
Ryder  soon  resumed  his  public  labors  with  us,  and  re- 
gained the  confidence  of  the  community. 

In  the  year  1834,  there  were  several  additions  to  the 
church.  Its  growth  has  never  been  rapid.  We  never  had 
very  large  accessions,  or  very  low  depressions. 

In  1839,  we  built  a  meeting-house  at  the  center  of  Man- 
tua, and  commenced  to  occupy  it  late  in  the  Fall.  It  was 
soon  after  this  that  you  labored  for  us.  About  this  time, 
(January  19,  1840),  John  Allerton  and  wife,  from  the 
church  at  Euclid,  and  Selah  Shirtliff  and  wife  united,  from 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


241 


the  church  in  Shalersville — all  the  same  day.  Of  the 
events  during  your  labors  for  the  church  at  Mantua,  in 
1840  and  1 841,  I  need  not  write. 

After  much  prayerful  consideration,  the  church  ordained 
Selah  Shirtliff  and  John  Allerton  as  elders,  and  Seth  San- 
ford,  deacon.    This  was  done  August  21,  1841. 

In  the  above,  I  should  have  mentioned  that  Walter 
Scott  preached  for  us  several  times.  Father  Thomas  Camp- 
bell a  number  of  times.  Alexander  Campbell  once,  and 
Bro.  Alton  once.  Jacob  Osborne  several  times  before  our 
organization,  and  once  afterward.  Adamson  Bentley  once 
or  more.  John  Henry  one  meeting  of  days.  William 
Hayden  many  times.  D.  Atwater. 

This  congregation  affords  an  instructive  example 
to  show  that  the  leaders  of  a  church  usually  impress 
the  strong  features  of  their  character  on  the  mem- 
bership. No  community  presents  greater  uniformity 
in  its  history.  Firm,  unwavering,  moderately  aggres- 
sive, she  has  maintained  her  ground  and  gradually  ex- 
tended her  borders.  Her  house  of  worship  was  too 
small,  and  after  some  years  it  was  enlarged.  Chiefly 
from  Mantua,  came  the  agencies  which  established 
the  church  in  Auburn.  She  has  not  been  behind  in 
works  of  benevolence,  and  her  contributions  for  mis- 
sionary enterprises,  for  the  translation  and  circulation 
of  the  Bible,  and  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  are 
a  memorial  to  her  honor.  Among  the  earliest  and 
strongest  advocates  of  temperance,  antislavery  and 
kindred  moralities,  this  brotherhood  will  be  remem- 
bered when  some  communities  of  more  pretension, 
but  far  less  merit,  shall  pass  away  and  fade  from  mem- 
ory. Bro.  Darwin  Atwater,  for  more  than  forty-three 
years,  was  the  honored  teacher,  elder,  and  counselor 
of  the  congregation. 
21 


242  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


This  church  of  Mantua  has  given  to  the  public 
three  .educated  men  of  much  promise  for  ability  and 
for  a  thorough  training  in  the  principles  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  These  are  the  three  sons  of  the  elder 
Atwater :  O.  C.  Atwater,  John  M.  Atwater,  and  Amzi 
Atwater — the  last  a  professor  in  the  University  of 
Bloomington,  Ind.,  and  a  preacher ;  the  others  are 
proclaimers  of  the  gospel  in  New  England. 

Sketch  of  Darwin  Atwater. 

Bro.  Atwater's  life  was  in  many  ways  remarkable.  Very 
seldom  has  a  man  appeared,  and  disappeared  from  the 
scenes  of  life's  activity  with  so  little  of  cloud  or  fleck  upon 
him.  Finely  formed,  of  full  size,  an  open,  frank,  yet 
grave  countenance,  his  presence  was  noble,  commanding 
always  the  respect  of  the  people. 

He  was  the  only  son  of  Hon.  Amzi  Atwater,  who  for  a 
time  filled  the  position  of  Associate  Judge,  and  of  Sister 
Huldah  Atwater,  whose  time-honored  home  was  in  Mantua. 
His  father,  the  late  Judge,  being  one  of  the  original  party 
of  surveyors  to  survey  into  townships  the  country  called 
New  Connecticut,  or  "  Western  Reserve,"  the  party  landed 
at  Conneaut,  the  4th  of  July,  1799,  and  proceeded  to  their 
work.  This  done,  Amzi  Atwater  married  Miss  Huldah 
Sheldon,  and  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Cuyahoga,  where 
his  son  Darwin  was  born,  September  n,  1805. 

He  availed  himself  of  such  facilities  for  learning  as  the 
country  afforded.  1822-23  he  spent  some  time  in  the 
academy  in  Warren.  Afterward,  in  company  with  his 
friend,  Bro.  Zeb  Rudolph,  yet  surviving,  he  took  a  course 
of  study  in  language  and  the  Bible,  to  fit  himself  for 
preaching. 

He  found  a  congenial  companion  in  every  good  sense, 
and  for  every  good  purpose,  in  Miss  Harriet  Clapp,  daugh- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


243 


ter  of  Judge  Orris  Clapp,  of  Mentor,  whose  family  are 
known  as  widely  as  the  cause  of  the  reformation. 

When  the  church  of  Mantua  was  formed,  Bro.  Atwater 
was  appointed  its  elder.  The  history  of  the  church  from 
that  day  was  the  history  of  Bro.  Atwater.  Other  elders 
there  have  been — and  good  ones — yet  the  uniformity  of 
his  life,  his  undeviating  devotion,  his  high  and  consistent 
manliness  and  superiority  of  judgment,  gave  him  an  undis- 
puted pre-eminence  in  the  church,  and  wherever  his  noble 
qualities  had  legitimate  exercise. 

Few  men  ever  lived  among  us  who  understood  better 
the  gospel  of  Christ.  Though  conducting  successfully  a 
large  farm,  his  study  of  the  Scripture  was  constant,  thor- 
ough, and  unremitting.  In  the  earlier  part  of  his  life  he 
gave  considerable  time  to  preaching,  and  all  his  life  the 
church  received  much  of  his  attention.  As  a  speaker  he 
was  slow,  but  his  speech  was  so  candid  and  so  seasoned 
with  good  sense  and  godly  counsel  that  it  was  always 
profitable. 

He  died  on  Wednesday,  the  28th  of  May;  was  buried 
Friday,  the  30th.  Bro.  A.  B.  Green  preached  on  the  oc- 
casion to  the  largest  assembly  ever  convened  on  such  an 
occasion  in  the  town.  The  preacher  was  much  weighed 
down,  saying  to  me  afterward,  "I  felt  as  though  I  was 
preaching  the  funeral  of  my  own  father." 

His  first  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. The  sons  are  all  preachers  and  holding  important 
positions.  His  daughter  Mary  is  Mrs.  Neely,  lately  among 
the  freedmen  in  Alabama,  now  of  North  Carolina. .  She 
was,  through  distance,  denied  the  sad  privilege  of  mingling 
her  tears  with  the  family  at  the  burial.  The  others  came, 
but  some  of  them  too  late  to  have  the  coffin-lid  lifted  to 
behold  his  face  in  death. 

Bro.  Atwater  died  within  twenty  rods  of  the  spot  where 
he  was  born.  The  home  virtues  were  pre-eminent.  Such 
a  home  !    And  such  generous  hospitality !     For  much 


244  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

more  than  forty  years  the  welcome  guest  has  bathed  at  his 
fountain  and  been  refreshed,  equally  at  his  table  and  by 
his  Christian,  hospitable  welcome. 

Many  years  ago  he  lost  the  faithful  wife  of  his  youth. 
Another  was  given  to  him,  who  let  not  down  the  standard 
of  home  virtues  and  comforts  He  married  the  second 
daughter  of  the  beloved  Marcus  Bosworth,  Mrs.  Betsy  W. 
Treudley,  whose  children  found  a  home  and  counsel  invalu- 
able to  them.  About  eighteen  years  the  new  went  on  so 
steadily  and  uniformly,  it  seemed  but  the  first  continued — 
not  two  families ;  one  continued,  unbroken  chain  of  affec- 
tion through  all. 

Hiram. 

The  history  of  the  church  of  disciples  in  Hiram  is 
so  intimately  interwoven  with  that  of  its  first  and 
long  its  only  elder,  Bro.  Symonds  Ryder,  that  we  shall 
follow  the  thread  of  his  life  in  giving  this  history  to 
our  readers.  In  doing  this,  we  shall  draw  freely  from 
the  biographical  sermon  delivered  by  Pres't  B.  A. 
Hinsdale,  of  Hiram  College,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
funeral  of  Mr.  Ryder,  August  3,  1870,  slightly  abridg- 
ing some  paragraphs.  We  do  this  with  the  more 
pleasure,  as  in  the  discourse  Pres 't  Hinsdale  gives  in 
its  true  light,  the  "momentary  tripping"  of  Bro.  Ry- 
der, with  the  correct  explanation  of  his  deviation  ;  a 
circumstance,  which,  at  the  time  it  occurred,  as  I  dis- 
tinctly remember,  created  a  marvel  of  astonishment 
in  the  minds  of  the  disciples  and  of  all  who  knew 
the  manly  consistency  of  his  character.  This  dis- 
course repeats  a  few  facts  already  recorded,  but  in 
such  connection  that  the  repetition  will  be  fresh. 
The  length  of  the  sermon  will  not  be  considered  ob- 
jectionable, in  view  of  the  valuable  lessons  which  it 
impresses  from  the  life  of  the  man  of  whom  it  speaks. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


245 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  SYMONDS  RYDER. 


A  FUNERAL  SERMON  PREACHED  IN  HIRAM,  O.,  AUG.  3,  1870. 


BV  B.  A.  HINSDALE. 


And  thou  shalt  go  to  thy  fathers  in  peace  ;  thou  shalt  be  buried  in  a  good  old 
age.    Gen.  xv  :  15. 

Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in,  in 
his  season.   Job  v :  20. 

Nothing  has  occurred  in  the  history  of  this  community 
for  many  years  so  fertile  in  suggestion,  as  the  event  which 
has  called  us  together. 

Here  lies  one  who  has  attained  to  the  age  of  nearly 
eighty  years — who  was  but  three  years  younger  than  the 
American  Government.  Not  many  men  are  left  to  us 
whose  recollections  go  back  to  the  closing  years  of  the 
great  life  of  Washington — to  the  time  when  Adams,  Jef- 
ferson, and  Hamilton,  were  in  the  fullness  of  their  strength ; 
not  many  who  read  in  the  newspapers  the  history  of  the 
wars  of  the  French  Revolution  ;  not  many  are  the  lives 
that  have  spanned  the  eventful  period  reaching  from  the 
time  when  the  first  Napoleon  was  an  unknown  subaltern  in 
the  French  army,  to  the  time  when  the  third  Napoleon  is 
marshaling  his  troops  for  the  great  struggle  with  Germany. 

The  man  whom  we  bury  to-day  was  an  object  of  interest 
in  himself.  He  was  no  ordinary  man ;  his  was  no  tame 
or  common  life.  What  he  was  in  himself,  the  relation  in 
which  he  so  long  stood  to  this  community,  and  especially 
to  this  church,  make  the  present  an  occasion  of  unusual 
interest  and  solemnity. 

His  Early  History. 

Symonds  Ryder  was  born  in  Hartford,  Windsor  County, 
Vermont,  on  the  20th  of  November,  1792.    He  was  of 


246  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Puritan  stock,  being  a  lineal  descendant  of  a  Ryder  who 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  His  father,  who  had  moved 
from  Cape  Cod  to  Vermont,  was  a  man  of  considerable 
influence  and  property.  The  decay  of  his  father's  fortune 
threw  young  Symonds  wholly  upon  his  own  resources.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  the  service  of  Elijah  Mason, 
the  father  of  Carnot  and  John  Mason,  long  citizens  of 
this  town  ;  the  father,  also,  of  Mrs.  Charles  Raymond  and 
Mrs.  Zeb  Rudolph,  who  are  present  with  us  to-day.  So 
soon  as  he  had  attained  his  majority,  having  served  Mason 
six  years,  Ryder  started  for  the  West.  His  entire  prop- 
erty consisted  of  the  clothes  he  wore,  the  horse  he  rode, 
and  a  little  money  in  pocket — all  together  amounting  to 
one  hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars.  It  is  worth  remark- 
ing that  he  passed  through  the  village  of  Buffalo  on  the 
28th  of  December,  181 3,  the  evening  before  it  was  burned 
by  the  British.  The  next  day  the  fleeing  population  over- 
took him,  while  yet  in  sight  of  their  burning  homes.  He 
arrived  in  Hiram,  January  6,  1814.  He  purchased  some 
land,  and  set  to  work  to  create  a  home  in  the  forest.  In 
the  winter  of  181 4-1 5,  he  returned  to  Vermont. 

Gathering  the  family  about  him,  he  started  a  second 
time  for  the  West ;  now  to  plant  his  father  and  mother, 
brothers  and  sisters,  in  the  new  home  which  he  had  par- 
tially prepared  for  them.  Here,  in  due  time,  the  Ryder 
family  found  themselves  in  Hiram,  surrounded  by  the  wil- 
derness, surrounded  too,  by  old  acquaintances ;  for  Hiram 
was  a  Vermont  colony. 

In  his  efforts  to  restore  the  fortunes  of  his  family,  he 
was  supported  by  his  younger  brother,  Jason,  long  a  dea- 
con of  the  church. 

In  1 81 8,  he  married  Mehetabel  Loomis,  who  struggled 
up  the  rugged  steeps  of  life  side  by  side  with  him  for  more 
than  fifty  years ;  who  survives  her  husband,  and  is  here  to- 
day to  weep  over  his  bier. 

In  the  early  history  of  Hiram,  he  was,  perhaps,  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


247 


best  educated  man  in  the  township,  and  was,  of  course, 
well  fitted  for  the  public  duties  which  his  townsmen  called 
him  to  discharge. 

His  Religious  Life. 

His  early  teachings  and  impressions  of  religion  were  of 
the  severe  puritanical  sort  which  prevailed  in  New  England 
during  the  last  century.  His  nature  was  susceptible  to  re- 
ligious ideas,  and  he  recognized  the  necessity  of  religion 
as  a  conservative  influence  on  society. 

One  of  the  oldest  churches  of  the  Mahoning  Association 
was  the  Church  of  Bethesda,  in  Nelson,  Portage  County, 
founded  in  1808.  The  reformed  views  effected  a  lodg- 
ment among  the  members  of  this  church  early  in  1824, 
and  after  a  series  of  struggles  to  reconcile  differences  of 
opinion  on  the  question  of  creeds,  and  on  some  points  of 
doctrine,  seventeen  members  were  excommunicated  for 
heresy.  The  heretics  represented  the  largest  share  of  the 
intelligence  and  piety  of  the  Bethesda  Church  ;  moreover, 
but  eight  votes  were  cast  for  the  exscinding  resolution. 
They  were  citizens  of  Nelson,  Hiram,  and  Mantua ;  and 
being  devoted  to  the  Bible  and  the  religion  of  the  New 
Testament,  they  met  successively  for  worship  on  Lord's 
days  in  these  townships.  In  those  meetings  they  studied 
the  Word,  and  strengthened  each  other  by  prayer  and  ex- 
hortation. There  was  at  first  no  man  among  them  of  suf- 
ficient age  and  experience  in  public  speaking  to  warrant 
his  election  to  the  office  of  Elder  or  Overseer.  But  Dar- 
win Atwater,  John  Rudolph  and  his  two  sons,  John  and 
Zeb,  (and  we  have  reason  for  gratulation  that  the  first  one 
and  last  two  are  with  us  to-day),  were  leading  members. 
The  little  band  continued  to  meet  and  increase  in  num- 
bers, though  without  any  regular  and  formal  organization. 
They  were  occasionally  visited  by  evangelists  and  preach- 
ers, who  had  adopted  the  advanced  views  of  Campbell 
and  Scott,  whose  preaching,  together  with  the  reading  of 


248  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

the  "Christian  Baptist,"  kept  them  informed  of  the  prog- 
ress of  the  new  movement. 

In  June,  1828,  Bosworth  preached  in  Hiram.  Symonds 
Ryder  heard  the  sermon,  and  at  its  conclusion,  called  Zeb 
Rudolph  aside,  and  asked  his  opinion  of  the  views  sub- 
mitted. The  subject  was  briefly  talked  over,  and  they 
agreed  to  meet  on  the  following  Saturday  to  consider  the 
matter  further.  It  is  worth  remarking,  however,  that  at 
this  interview  he  expressed  himself  as  being  better  satis- 
fied with  this  presentation  of  the  gospel  than  with  any 
other  that  he  had  heard.  Suffice  it  to  say,  it  presented 
something  tangible  to  the  hearer,  and  appealed  powerfully 
to  the  objective  mind. 

On  the  Saturday  appointed,  it  so  happened  that  Thomas 
Campbell  was  to  preach  in  Mantua,  and  on  his  way  to  the 
meeting  Rudolph  called  on  his  friend  Ryder  early  in  the 
morning.  He  found  him  with  the  New  Testament  in  his 
hand,  studying  the  theme  of  Bosworth's  discourse.  On 
the  following  day  Ryder  went  to  hear  Mr.  Campbell,  who 
preached  in  the  barn  of  Jotham  Atwater.  The  vener- 
able preacher  read  the  two  first  chapters  of  Genesis  and 
the  last  chapter  of  Revelations — chapters  which  give  the 
history  of  the  creation  of  man,  and  an  account  of  the 
New  Jerusalem.  He  then  remarked — holding  the  inter- 
vening portion  of  the  Bible  between  his  thin  hands — that 
had  it  not  been  for  sin  there  would  have  been  no  need 
for  any  other  revelation  than  the  three  chapters  he  had 
read ;  all  the  rest  was  to  unfold  the  scheme  of  redemption. 
He  said  that  in  his  earlier  years  he  had  often  wished  he 
had  lived  in  the  days  of  the  Jews,  that  he  might  offer  his 
sacrifice  at  the  altar,  and  know  by  the  direct  assurance  of 
God  that  his  offering  was  accepted.  Then,  quoting  from 
the  sixth  of  Jeremiah  the  words:  "  Stand  ye  in  the  ways, 
and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good  way, 
and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your  souls,"  be 
proceeded  to  unfold  the  law  of  Pardon  as  taught  in  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


249 


gospel,  and  concluded  with  an  invitation  to  sinners  to 
obey.  Before  the  first  line  of  the  hymn  was  sung  through, 
Symonds  Ryder  went  forward  to  confess  his  Master,  and 
the  same  day  was  baptized  in  the  Cuyahoga  River  by 
Reuben  Ferguson,  of  Windham. 

The  accession  to  the  cause  of  a  man  of  Symonds  Ry- 
der's age,  influence,  and  force  of  character  was  the  signal 
for  a  more  systematic  organization  ;  and  before  one  year 
had  elapsed,  the  hitherto  floating  band  of  worshipers  was 
divided  into  two  churches.  One  of  these  was  the  Man- 
tua church,  at  Mantua;  the  other  the  Hiram-Nelson,  at 
Hiram.  Of  the  Hiram  church,  Bro.  Ryder  was  chosen 
and  ordained  the  first  overseer.  This  church  continued 
to  maintain  its  joint  character  till  1835,  when  the  Nelson 
element  withdrew  and  formed  a  separate  organization  at 
Garrettsville.  So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  the 
Mantua  and  Hiram -Nelson  churches  were  the  first  which 
were  established  in  this  part  of  the  Western  Reserve  dis- 
tinctly and  avowedly  on  the  basis  of  the  Bible  alone. 

From  the  moment  Bro.  Ryder  obeyed  the  gospel,  he 
expressed  himself  satisfied  with  the  views  taught  by  the 
Disciples  on  all  points  save  one.  He  read  in  the  New 
Testament  of  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  and,  in  his  mind, 
it  was  in  some  way  associated  with  the  laying  on  of  hands, 
and  with  some  special  spiritual  illumination.  The  words, 
"  These  signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe,"  seemed  to 
him  not  yet  to  have  been  comprehended  or  realized.  For 
years,  this  mystery  of  the  Word  was  the  subject  Of  fre- 
quent thought  and  conversation.  I  have  been  careful  to 
state  this  fact,  because  it  furnishes  the  key  to  a  remarkable 
episode  in  his  life. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1830,  the  founders  of  Mormonism 
began  to  effect  a  lodgment  in  northern  Ohio.  Sidney 
Rigdon,  a  preacher  among  the  Disciples,  of  great  elo- 
quence and  power,  had  joined  them,  and  commenced 
preaching  their  doctrine.    Whatever  we  may  say  of  the 


250  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


moral  character  of  the  author  of  Mormonism,  it  can  not 
be  denied  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a  man  of  remarkable 
power — over  others.  Added  to  the  stupendous  claim  of 
supernatural  power,  conferred  by  the  direct  gift  of  God, 
he  exercised  an  almost  magnetic  power — an  irresistible 
fascination — over  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
Ezra  Booth,  of  Mantua,  a  Methodist  preacher  of  much 
more  than  ordinary  culture,  and  with  strong  natural  abili- 
ties, in  company  with  his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  and 
some  other  citizens  of  this  place,  visited  Smith  at  his 
home  in  Kirtland,  in  1831.  Mrs.  Johnson  had  been  af- 
flicted for  some  time  with  a  lame  arm,  and  was  not  at  the 
time  of  the  visit  able  to  lift  her  hand  to  her  head.  The 
party  visited  Smith  partly  out  of  curiosity,  and  partly  to 
see  for  themselves  what  there  might  be  in  the  new  doc- 
trine. During  the  interview,  the  conversation  turned  on, 
the  subject  of  supernatural  gifts,  such  as  were  conferred  in 
the  days  of  the  apostles.  Some  one  said,  "Here  is  Mrs. 
Johnson  with  a  lame  arm;  has  God  given  any  power  to 
men  now  on  the  earth  to  cure  her?"  A  few  moments 
later,  when  the  conversation  had  turned  in  another  direc- 
tion, Smith  rose,  and  walking  across  the  room,  taking  Mrs. 
Johnson  by  the  hand,  said  in  the  most  solemn  and  im- 
pressive manner  :  14  Woman ,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  command  thee  to  be  whole,"  and  immediately  left 
the  room. 

The  company  were  awe-stricken  at  the  infinite  presump- 
tion of  the  man,  and  the  calm  assurance  with  which  he 
spoke.  The  sudden  mental  and  moral  shock — I  know  not 
how  better  to  explain  the  well  attested  fact — electrified 
the  rheumatic  arm — Mrs.  Johnson  at  once  lifted  it  up  with 
ease,  and  on  her  return  home  the  next  day  she  was  able 
to  do  her  washing  without  dirficulty  or  pain. 

In  addition  to  this  striking  occurrence  the  Mormon  Bi- 
ble professed  to  be  a  continuation  of  the  revelations  which 
God  had  made  to  the  Jews  and  their  descendants.  Two 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


251 


questions  of  great  historic  interest,  which  appealed  strongly 
to  the  imagination  of  all  students  of  sacred  and  profane 
history,  it  professedly  solved.  It  gave  a  history  of  the 
lost  tribes  of  Israel ;  and  it  accounted  for  the  red  men  of 
the  new  world,  the  mound-builders  of  Mexico,  and  of  the 
great  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  revelations  made  to 
these  wandering  Israelites,  it  was  claimed,  had  been  pre- 
served for  the  saints  of  the  latter  day,  who  should  inhabit 
the  new  wilderness  of  the  West,  and  upon  whom  God 
would  pour  out  his  Spirit  in  fullness  and  power.  Ezra 
Booth  became  a  convert  and  an  elder,  May,  1831.  Com- 
ing to  Hiram  in  the  same  month,  he  attended  church,  and 
at  the  conclusion  of  Elder  Ryder's  sermon,  sought  and 
obtained  permission  to  make  an  address,  in  which  he 
stated  in  the  strong,  clear  language  of  impassioned  enthu- 
siasm, the  ground  of  his  new  faith,  and  the  inspiring 
hopes  which  it  gave  him.  A  deep  impression  was  made 
upon  the  minds  of  many  who  heard  him.  Elder  Ryder 
was  himself  staggered;  and  "  lest  haply  he  should  be  found 
even  to  fight  against  God,"  he  sat  in  silence,  neither  ap- 
proving nor  disapproving.  Determined,  however,  to 
know  the  truth  and  follow  it  wherever  it  might  lead,  he 
made  a  journey  to  Kirtland,  and  heard  for  himself.  On 
his  return,  he  seemed  for  a  short  time  to  have  rejected 
the  claims  of  Mormonism ;  but  in  the  month  of  June,  he 
read  in  a  newspaper  an  account  of  the  destruction  of  Pe- 
kin,  in  China,  and  he  remembered  that  six  weeks  before, 
a  young  Mormon  girl  had  predicted  the  destruction  of 
that  city.  Shortly  after  this,  he  openly  professed  his  ad- 
hesion to  the  Mormon  faith  ;  but  he  and  Ezra  Booth,  who 
were  most  intimate  friends,  promised  that  they  would  faith- 
fully aid  each  other  in  discerning  the  truth  or  the  falsity 
of  the  new  doctrine. 

Booth  was  soon  commissioned  to  go  to  Missouri  to  ex- 
plore the  new  land  of  promise,  and  lay  the  foundations 
of  the  new  Zion.    Ryder  was  informed,  that  by  special 


252  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

revelation  he  had  been  appointed  and  commissioned  an 
elder  of  the  Mormon  church.  His  commission  came,  and 
he  found  his  name  misspelled.  Was  the  Holy  Spirit  so 
fallible  as  to  fail  even  in  orthography?  Beginning  with 
this  challenge,  his  strong,  incisive  mind  and  honest  heart 
were  brought  to  the  task  of  re-examining  the  ground  on 
which  he  stood.  His  friend  Booth  had  been  passing 
through  a  similar  experience,  on  his  pilgrimage  to  Mis- 
souri, and,  when  they  met  about  the  ist  of  September, 
1 83 1,  the  first  question  which  sprang  from  the  lips  of  each 
was — 11  How  is  your  faith  t*%  and  the  first  look  into  each 
other's  faces,  gave  answer  that  the  spell  of  enchant- 
ment was  broken,  and  the  delusion  was  ended.  They 
turned  from  the  dreams  they  had  followed  for  a  few 
months,  and  found  more  than  ever  before,  that  the  re- 
ligion of  the  New  Testament  was  "the  shadow  of  a  great 
rock  in  a  weary  land."  A  large  number  of  the  citizens 
of  Hiram  had  given  in  their  adhesion  to  the  doctrines  of 
Smith  and  Rigdon,  but  the  efforts  of  Ryder  and  Booth 
went  far  to  stay  the  tide,  and  lead  back  those  who  had 
been  swept  away  on  its  current. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  a  man  of  Father  Ryder's 
strong  mind  and  honest  heart,  could  even  temporarily 
have  fallen  into  the  Mormon  delusion.  Let  us  not  fail  to 
remember,  however,  that  Mormonism  in  northern  Ohio, 
in  1 83 1,  was  a  very  different  thing  from  Mormonism  in 
Utah,  in  1870.  It  then  gave  no  sign  of  the  moral  abom- 
ination which  is  now  its  most  prominent  characteristic. 
Besides,  it  was  a  formative  period  in  religious  history : 
new  ideas  were  fermenting  in  the  minds  of  men ;  and, 
considering  the  facts  before  stated,  it  is  not  inexplicable 
that  so  strong  a  nature  should  have  given  way  to  the  fa- 
naticism. It  is  greatly  to  his  credit  that  he  so  soon  dis- 
covered its  true  character,  and  had  the  honesty  to  say  to 
the  community  that  he  had  been  deluded.  He  did  not, 
like  so  many  others  who  found  that  their  faith  had  been 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


253 


trifled  with,  renounce  religion.  He  immediately  returned 
to  the  church,  but  in  contrition  and  meekness.  His  con- 
duct showed  plainly  that  he  felt  he  had  in  some  degree 
forfeited  the  confidence  of  the  brethren.  Had  he  been 
repelled  as  an  apostate,  his  heart  might  have  broken,  or 
he  might  have  drifted  off  into  godlessness.  But  the 
brethren  treated  him  kindly — he  regained  confidence, 
took  his  old  place  in  the  church,  and  labored  for  its  wel- 
fare with  increased  energy.  Counting  from  the  date  of 
his  election  as  overseer,  for  a  full  third  of  a  century  he 
was  the  strong  tower  of  the  church — its  defender,  teacher, 
preacher,  and,  till  1852,  its  only  elder.  In  addition  to 
his  work  in  Hiram,  he  labored  extensively  in  other  fields. 
He  was  well  known  to  most  of  the  churches  in  north-east- 
ern Ohio. 

His  Later  Life  and  Relations  to  the  Hiram  Church. 

Here  the  facts  are  less  striking,  and  they  must  be 
passed  over  in  silence.  They  are  familiar  to  many  of  you. 
You  remember  the  giving  way  of  his  constitution — his 
retirement  from  public  duty — his  confinement  at  home — 
his  terrible  suffering  from  disease — his  happy  faith — his 
triumphant  and  blessed  death. 

Here  I  should  speak  more  particularly  of  Father  Ryder's 
relations  to  the  church,  especially  with  reference  to  one 
point.  As  he  was  an  influential  citizen  at  the  time  of  his 
conversion,  he  was  justly  regarded  as  an  important  acqui- 
sition to  the  cause.  He  took  from  the  beginning,  the 
leading  position.  The  brethren  were  few  in  number,  and 
poor  in  goods.  He  served  the  church,  as  was  his  duty, 
with  little  or  no  reward.  The  more  the  church  grew, 
the  more  it  seemed  to  need  him.  He  was  first  the  eldest 
brother,  then  the  father,  finally  the  patriarch.  What  fol- 
lowed was  natural :  he  did  too  much  for  the  church ;  the 
church  did  too  little  for  themselves.  Their  sense  of  sat- 
isfied dependence,  together  with  his  thrifty  maxims,  led 


254  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


to  illiberal  contributions  for  the  support  of  the  gospel, 
and  to  inefficient  business  management.  A  mistake  was 
made,  into  which  almost  all  the  old  churches  fell:  no 
suitable  provision  was  made  for  a  new  and  different  age. 
The  church  failed  to  discern  the  signs  of  the  times.  He, 
too,  failed  to  discern  them  ;  or  discerning  them,  gave  no 
warning  ;  or,  the  warning  being  given,  it  was  not  heeded. 
At  all  events,  the  church  was  not  educated  up  to  the 
wants  of  the  coming  time,  and  its  force  is  weakened,  and 
its  usefulness  impaired  to  this  hour. 

His  Character. 

I  pass  on  to  present  a  hastily  prepared  analysis  of  his 
character.  I  shall  seek  to  speak  of  him  as  he  was.  This 
is  the  only  course  he  would  approve  if  he  could  be  con- 
sulted ;  for  he  was  of  the  Cromwellian  class,  whose  motto 
is,  "Paint  me  as  Jam." 

First  of  all,  his  physical  constitution. 

His  large  frame,  powerful  muscular  organization,  and 
great  power  of  endurance,  furnished  the  physical  basis  of 
his  long  and  laborious  life.  If  this  were,  as  is  sometimes 
falsely  charged,  an  age  of  physical  degeneracy,  it  were  the 
more  worth  remarking  that  Father  Ryder  never  could 
have  done  his  work  as  a  citizen  and  a  Christian  without 
his  great  vital  power.  The  picture  of  him  that  I  shall 
carry  through  life  is  the  one  which  he  stamped  upon  my 
mind  when  he  was  about  sixty  years  of  age.  I  was  then 
a  young  student,  and  he  alternated  with  the  principal  of 
the  school  in  the  preaching.  I  remember  him  as  he 
stood  in  this  pulpit — rather  in  the  pulpit  in  the  midst  of 
whose  ashes  this  pulpit  was  reared — hale  of  body  and  vig- 
orous of  mind,  scourging  popular  errors  and  follies,  and 
exhorting  to  righteousness,  temperance,  and  preparation 
for  the  judgment  to  come.  It  seemed  that  nature  had 
stored  up  in  his  strong  body  force  enough  to  supply  the 
vital  mechanism  for  a  century.    He  lived,  indeed,  to  a 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


255 


good  old  age.  Nevertheless,  I  find  myself  asking,  why 
did  he  not  attain  to  the  age  of  one  hundred  years?  Two 
facts  area  sufficient  answer  to  the  question.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  laborious  men  of  that  generation  which  bore 
off  upon  its  broad  shoulders,  as  Sampson  did  the  gates  of 
Gaza,  the  heavy  forest  which  covered  this  land — the  gen- 
eration that  made  possible  that  home  in  which  we  live  to- 
day— the  generation  which  performed  the  most  wonderful 
work  of  the  kind  that  history  has  witnessed )  for  in  no 
age,  and  in  no  country,  has  the  face  of  nature  been  so 
suddenly  transformed  as  in  the  Northern  States  of  the 
American  Union.  He  was  also  identified  with  a  religious 
work,  somewhat  akin  to  the  other,  and  no  whit  less  labor- 
ious. To  this  he  gave  his  time,  his  energy,  and,  no  doubt 
several  years  of  natural  expectancy  of  life.  If  the  pion- 
eers gave  us  the  homes  in  which  we  dwell,  no  less  did 
these  pioneers  of  religious  reform  give  us  the  churches  in 
which  we  worship. 

In  the  second  place,  his  menial  characteristics. 

Father  Ryder's  mind,  also,  was  organized  on  a  large 
plan.  He  lacked  only  the  discipline  of  study  and  the  cul- 
ture of  the  schools,  to  fit  him  for  prominence  in  any  com- 
munity where  the  fortunes  of  life  might  have  called  him. 
I  say  he  lacked  only  these ;  for  his  logical  cast  of  mind, 
great  common  sense,  and  simplicity  of  character  would 
have  fortified  him  against  the  warpings  and  effeminacy 
which  the  schools  sometimes  engender.  I  have  mentioned 
his  logical  cast  of  mind.  Every  thing  was  brought  to  the 
test  of  reason  and  common  sense.  His  own  life  was  ruled 
by  his  judgment,  not  by  his  sentiments  or  emotions. 
Besides,  his  mind  was  eminently  honest  and  practical. 
He  followed  the  convictions  of  his  reason  ;  he  brought 
things  to  the  test  of  utility. 

He  had  no  confidence  in  sensational  religion,  or  in  sen- 
sational preaching.  He  feared  the  influence  on  the 
church  of  high  religious  excitement.    "Let  us  have  no 


256  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

excitement  here!  M  he  cried,  almost  in  the  tone  of  com- 
mand, when  in  a  great  congregation  that  throbbed  with 
religious  feeling,  one  of  his  sons  came  to  confess  Christ. 
"Let  us  have  no  excitement  here,"  and  the  tension  of 
his  own  frame,  and  the  tears  that  coursed  down  his 
cheeks,  showed  how  deeply  he  was  himself  moved.  If  he 
allowed  the  logical  faculty  to  reign  too  absolutely  in  the 
realm  of  religion — as  was  no  doubt  true — it  must  be  re- 
membered that  this  was  a  natural  result  of  his  own  mental 
constitution,  and  of  his  early  religious  training.  The 
practical  character  of  his  mind  was  also  seen  in  his  preach- 
ing. In  his  preaching  he  was  in  the  habit  of  dealing  with 
a  class  of  themes  that  receive  too  little  attention  in  the 
pulpit.  He  brought  religion  into  the  store,  the  shop,  the 
field,  the  granary,  and  the  kitchen.  He  thought  it  had 
something  to  do  with  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  the 
weighing  of  sugar,  the  measuring  of  grain,  the  cording  of 
wood.  Industry,  economy,  honest  dealing,  the  obliga- 
tion to  pay  debts  when  due — those  old-fashioned  virtues 
formed  the  theme  of  constant  discourse.  A  very  compe- 
tent judge  has  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  marked 
honesty  and  thrift  of  the  citizens  of  Hiram  are  largely  due 
to  his  teachings  and  example.  Here  again,  in  his  later 
years,  he  no  doubt  committed  some  excesses.  His  mind 
revolted  at  the  exhibition  of  what  he  thought  the  extrava- 
gance, wastefulness,  indolence,  and  recklessness  of  the 
new  generation,  and  his  honest  nature  poured  itself  out  in 
warning  and  rebuke.  No  doubt  he  exaggerated  the  vices 
of  the  new  time ;  but  much  of  his  admonition  was  called 
for,  and  the  remainder  can  be  pardoned  when  we  remem- 
ber that  it  is  a  rare  occurrence  for  one  to  see  and  under- 
stand two  generations. 

In  the  third  place,  his  moral  and  religious  character. 

The  basis  of  his  moral  character  was  integrity.  So  far 
as  known  to  me,  no  man  has  ever  charged  him  with  a  de- 
flection from  the  strict  line  of  right.    He  never  had  a  law- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  257 

suit  in  his  life;  dying,  he  leaves  no  enemy.  This  was 
largely  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  always  so  regulated  his 
life  that  he  could  be  straightforward  and  honest.  He 
never  allowed  the  situation  to  become  his  master.  He 
was  so  careful  in  making  contracts ;  so  wary  of  promising 
when  it  was  questionable  whether  he  could  perform;  so 
prompt  in  meeting  his  engagements,  that  it  was  always 
easy  for  him  to  be  upright  and  honest.  He  understood 
thoroughly  that  it  is  possible  for  a  man  to  commit  him- 
self to  a  logic  of  events  that  is  sure  to  embarrass  and  per- 
haps destroy  him.  A  fact  will  illustrate  this  characteris- 
tic: For  several  years  he  was  the  Treasurer  of  the 
College.  For  a  man  in  his  circumstances  at  that  time, 
this  was  a  very  considerable  responsibility.  He  carried 
the  institution  money  in  one  end  of  a  wallet,  his  own  in 
the  other.  He  never  used  the  College-funds  in  his  own 
business;  never  changed  a  large  bill  in  one  end  for  smaller 
ones  of  equal  value  in  the  other.  Most  men  will  smile  at 
this  refinement  of  scrupulousness  ;  but  let  me  say  to  all — 
especially  to  the  young  men  present — this  sort  of  men 
never  become  unknown  debtors  to  the  money-drawers  of 
their  employers,  or  defaulters  to  the  public  treasury. 

To  sum  up  in  a  few  words,  Symonds  Ryder  had  character. 
He  did  not  drift  on  the  current ;  he  set  currents  in  mo- 
tion. He  did  not  rest  on  the  sentiment  of  the  commu- 
nity ;  he  formed  sentiment  for  the  community.  He  was 
not  the  creature  of  circumstances ;  he  made  them  bow  to 
him.  As  a  citizen  and  a  Christian,  he  had  root  in  him- 
self. Of  course  he  had  a  will ;  a  man  of  his  stamp  always 
has;  without  it,  character  is  impossible.  His  will  may 
have  run  into  excess ;  no  doubt  it  did ;  but  it  was  the  in- 
evitable play  of  a  powerful  and  indispensable  faculty.  A 
man  who  was  never  firm  even  to  obstinacy,  never  plain 
even  to  severity,  never  truthful  even  to  unkindness,  could 
not  have  done  his  work. 


22 


258  EARLY    HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


The  Lesson  of  his  Life. 

There  is  one  iesson  still  to  be  gleaned.  So  long  a  life 
has  a  sermon  in  itself :  The  duty  of  living  for  old  age. 

History  teaches  us  that  the  average  of  human  life  is 
lengthening.  Nor  are  we  left  in  doubt  as  to  the  reason  : 
fevers  are  becoming  less  frequent  and  less  murderous; 
plagues  do  not  desolate  cities  as  in  the  middle  ages ;  men 
wear  better  clothing,  live  in  better  houses,  eat  better 
food;  in  a  word,  they  live  more  as  God  intended  they 
should  live.  In  the  Bible  an  abundance  of  old  men  is 
made  an  evidence  of  peace  and  prosperity — a  sign  of 
God's  presence  with  his  people.  " There  shall  yet  old  men 
dwell  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  and  every  man  with  his 
staff  in  his  hand  for  very  age."  This  language  points  to 
contentment,  peace,  and  godliness.     "  Behold  the  days 

 come  that  there  shalt  not  be  an  old  man  in 

thine  house  forever."  This  points  to  scenes  of  violence, 
bloodshed,  and  sin.  Intemperance,  lust,  ungoverned  pas- 
sion, consume  the  oil  that  should  fill  the  lamp  of  life ;  in- 
dustry, temperance,  godliness,  feed  the  flame.  "  The  fear 
of  the  Lord  prolongeth  days ;  but  the  years  of  the  wicked 
are  shortened."  "For  as  the  days  of  a  tree  are  the  days 
of  my  people,  and  mine  elect  shall  long  enjoy  the  work 
of  their  hands."  Accordingly,  "  Godliness  is  profitable 
unto  all  things,  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and 
that  which  is  to  come."  Hence  the  relative  number  of 
old  men  in  any  community  is  a  good  measure  of  that  com- 
munity's physical,  mental,  and  moral  health. 

"The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory,  if  it  be  found  in 
the  way  of  righteousness."  This  is  a  description  of  the 
old  age  of  the  father  whom  to-day  we  commit  to  his  rest. 
We  do  not  weep  or  shed  unnecessary  tears;  we  rejoice 
that  he  lived  so  long,  and  lived  so  well.  His  usefulness 
was  past.  The  age  was  calling  for  a  different  type  of 
men,  when  increasing  infirmities  compelled  him  to  retire 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  259 

from  the  field.  We  judge  him  by  his  generation — not  by 
ours.  He  has  gone  to  his  father's  in  peace  ;  he  is  buried 
in  a  good  old  age.  He  has  come  to  his  grave  in  full  age, 
like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his  season.  God  grant 
that  we  may  do  our  work  as  well  as  he  did  his ;  then  we 
may  go  to  our  graves  in  equal  peace. 

This  church  has  never  been  subject  to  much  accel- 
eration or  retardation  in  its  movements,  another  ex- 
ample of  the  leading  authority  in  a  community  gov- 
erning and  moderating  the  tendencies  of  the  people. 
Constantly  and  faithfully  supplied  with  home  talent, 
it  has  suffered  few  fluctuations.  The  brethren  here 
have  received  accessions  to  their  numbers  at  various 
times,  from  the  labors  of  most  or  all  the  preachers 
who  for  a  period  of  thirty  years  were  the  stay  of  the 
churches.  In  the  founding  of  the  Eclectic  Institute, 
the  church  and  community  in  Hiram  proffered  a 
larger  donation  for  establishing  it  than  was  offered 
by  any  other  of  the  seven  contestants  for  the  loca- 
tion ;  nearly  every  dollar  of  which  was  paid.  And 
during  the  twenty-four  years  of  its  life,  this  com- 
munity has  responded  liberally  from  time  to  time  to 
its  necessities. 

Soon  after  the  Institute  was  established,  A.  S. 
Hayden  was  elected  co-elder  with  Bro.  Ryder,  and 
preached  in  alternation  with  him  during  the  seven 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  Institute.  Since 
that  time  brethren  Perry  Reno  and  Hartwell  Ryder 
have  presided  as  elders.  Bro.  E.  H.  Hawley  served 
the  church  one  year  as  elder  and  pastor.  At  pres- 
ent, Bro.  B.  A.  Hinsdale,  is  employed  as  elder  and 
preacher.    Brethren  Jason  Ryder  and  Erastus  Young 


26o  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

have  long  served  as  the  faithful  deacons  of  the 
church. 

The  Church  in  Garrettsville. 

In  1835,  the  members  increasing,  a  new  church 
arose  in  Garrettsville.  The  veteran  "  Father  Ru- 
dolph" and  his  family,  Bro.  Hunt,  Isaac  Mead,  and 
the  brethren  Noah  were  principal  members.  John 
Henry  and  William  Hayden  were  early  helpers.  In 
July,  1838,  a  meeting  was  conducted  by  J.  Hartzel 
and  M.  Bosworth,  which  imparted  great  strength  to 
the  cause,  and  added  eleven  souls.  The  church 
flourished  for  several  years  under  the  charge  of  Bro. 
Zeb  Rudolph,  with  John  Rudolph,  Jr.  and  Michael 
Pifer  as  deacons.  Bro.  H.  Brockett  held  some  meet- 
ings with  marked  success ;  also  Allerton,  Hubbard, 
Moss,  Green,  and  most  of  the  proclaimers  of  the 
Word. 

The  brethren  built  a  good  house  for  meetings, 
which  was  formally  dedicated  by  Bro.  J.  Hartzel  and 
A.  S.  Hayden. 

The  congregation  prospered  for  about  twenty 
years  ;  till  by  removals  and  death  it  was  so  reduced 
that  the  meetings  were  closed,  and  the  meeting- 
house eventually  was  sold. 

Origin  and   Establishment  of  the  Eclectic 
Institute. 

Hiram  College  flourished  seventeen  years  under 
the  title  of  the  Western  Reserve  Eclectic  Institute. 

In  tracing  the  earliest  impulses  in  which  the  school 
arose,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  state  that  several  men 
seemed  to  be  impressed  nearly  simultaneously  with 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE  26 1 

the  necessity  for  it.  A.  S.  Hayden  had  been  for 
years  corresponding  with  leading  members  of  the 
church  in  North-eastern  Ohio,  on  the  advantages  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  of  such  a  work ;  fixing  his 
thought,  however,  on  a  school  for  qualifying  preach- 
ers of  the  gospel  for  their  duties.  His  brother,  Wm. 
Hayden,  entered  fully  into  his  views,  and  promised 
liberal  pecuniary  assistance. 

The  first  direct  practical  suggestion  for  realizing 
these  views,  is  due  to  the  late  A.  L.  Soule,  Esq., 
then  of  Russell.  At  the  yearly  meeting  in  Russell, 
June,  1849,  ne  proposed  that  the  matter  be  stated  pub- 
licly, and  a  call  be  made  for  all  who  were  interested 
to  meet  at  his  residence  on  Monday  morning  of  the 
meeting,  to  take  the  subject  under  consideration.  It 
was  agreed  that  A.  S.  Hayden  should  make  the  state- 
ment and  present  the  call  for  this  meeting. 

On  Monday  morning,  June  12th,  at  eight  o'clock, 
there  was  a  full  meeting  of  the  councillors  of  the 
church.  There  were  present :  A.  Bentley,  Wm. 
Hayden,  A.  L.  Soule,  Myron  Soule,  Benj.  Soule, 
Anson  Matthews,  Zeb  Rudolph,  A.  S.  Hayden,  W. 

A.  Lillie,  Alanson  Baldwin,  E.  Williams,  F.  Will- 
iams, E.  B.  Violl,  M.  J.  Streator,  W.  A.  Belding,  A. 

B.  Green,  and  many  others.  A.  L.  Soule  was  ap- 
pointed chairman,  and  A.  S.  Hayden,  secretary. 
The  movement  was  unanimously  approved,  and  a 
resolution  was  passed  to  take  steps  immediately  for 
founding  such  a  school  as  was  in  contemplation.  The 
secretary  was  instructed  to  prepare  and  send  to  the 
churches  an  address  stating  the  object  in  view,  and 
inviting  delegates  to  a  future  meeting  in  which  the 
views  of  the  people  might  be  fully  ascertained. 


262  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

At  this  meeting,  which  was  held  in  Bloomfield 
at  the  yearly  meeting,  the  last  of  August,  the 
same  year,  the  response  of  the  people  was  unani- 
mous and  decided  in  favor  of  the  project  ;  and  a  call 
was  issued  for  delegates  to  meet  at  Ravenna  the 
next  October,  for  maturing  plans  to  accomplish  it. 

This  adjourned  meeting  assembled  in  Ravenna, 
Wednesday,  October  3,  1849.  J-  P-  Robison  was 
chosen  chairman,  and  A.  S.  Hayden,  secretary.  It 
was  found  that  there  was  a  general  interest  in  the 
enterprise.  The  delegates  discussed  various  ques- 
tions relating  to  it,  one  of  which  was  the  grade  or 
rank  of  the  contemplated  institution.  Two  classes 
of  views  were  represented  there.  Some  proposed 
the  founding  of  a  college,  asserting  our  ability  to 
create  an  institution  of  that  grade;  others  were  in 
favor  of  establishing  a  school  of  high  grade,  but  not 
to  clothe  it  at  first  with  collegiate  powers.  Those 
latter  views  prevailed,  and  the  sense  of  the  conven- 
tion was  expressed  nearly  unanimously  in  a  resolu- 
tion to  that  effect. 

This  meeting  appointed  five  of  its  members  a  del- 
egation to  visit  all  places  which  solicited  the  location 
of  the  school,  to  investigate  and  compare  the  grounds 
of  their  respective  claims,  and  to  report  at  the  next 
delegate  meeting,  when  the  question  of  location  was 
to  be  decided.  This  delegation  consisted  of  Aaron 
Davis,  Zeb  Rudolph,  B.  F.  Perky,  Wm.  Richards, 
and  . 

No  fewer  than  seven  towns  came  in  as  petitioners 
for  it,  viz. :  North  Bloomfield,  Newton  Falls,  Hiram, 
Shalersville,  Aurora,  Russell,  and  Bedford.  The 
members  of  the  delegation  were  sound  and  discern- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


263 


ing  men.  They  performed  their  duty  faithfully,  and 
prepared  an  able  report.  Much  interest  was  awak- 
ened on  the  question  of  location,  and  many  awaited 
with  anxious  expectation  the  decision  of  that  ques- 
tion. The  next  convention  met  in  Aurora,  Tuesday, 
November  7th.  Thirty-one  delegates  from  as  many 
churches  were  in  attendance ;  also  many  other 
friends  of  the  enterprise,  whose  presence  testified 
their  great  interest  in  the  subject.  The  meeting  or- 
ganized by  appointing  Dr.  J.  P.  Robison,  chairman, 
(J.  G.  Coleman  presiding  part  of  the  time,)  and  A.  S. 
Hayden,  secretary. 

The  whole  day  was  spent  in  hearing  and  discuss- 
ing the  report  of  the  visiting  delegation,  and  in  set- 
tling the  plan  of  procedure.  The  balloting  occupied 
much  of  the  night.  After  thirteen  ballotings,  the 
choice  resulted  in  favor  of  Hiram.  The  last  vote 
stood  ten  for  Russell  and  seventeen  for  Hiram,  four 
delegates  having  returned  home  before  the  final  vote 
was  taken. 

The  convention  adjourned  to  meet  in  Hiram,  De- 
cember 20th. 

This  meeting  at  Hiram  was  the  last  delegate  as- 
sembly. It  elected  a  board  of  twelve  trustees,  viz. : 
George  Pow,  Samuel  Church,  Aaron  Davis,  Isaac 
Errett,  Carnot  Mason,  Zeb  Rudolph,  Symonds  Ry- 
der, J.  A.  Ford,  Kimball  Porter,  William  Hayden, 
Frederick  Williams,  and  A.  S.  Hayden;  and  ap- 
pointed Charles  Brown,  Isaac  Errett,  and  A.  S.  Hay- 
den, a  committee  to  draft  a  charter  for  the  school. 
This  committee,  with  the  assistance  of  Judge  King, 
of  Warren,  prepared  the  charter,  which,  with  a  few 
slight  changes,  received  the  approval  of  the  Board. 


264  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

The  name  of  the  institution,  Western  Reserve  Ec- 
lectic Institute,  was  suggested  by  Isaac  Errett. 
The  provision  in  the  charter  that  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures shall  forever  be  taught  in  the  institution  as 
the  foundation  of  all  true  liberty,  and  of  all  moral 
obligation,  was  inserted  on  motion  of  Wm.  Hayden. 
He  strongly  urged  that  this  must  ever  be  the  char- 
acteristic dignity  of  this  institution,  the  perpetual 
safeguard  of  social  happiness,  benign  government, 
and  religious  freedom.  The  charter  was  forwarded 
by  A.  Udatl,  Esq.,  to  the  hands  of  Hon.  George 
Sheldon,  of  Mantua,  who  then  represented  Portage 
County  in  the  legislature,  through  whom  it  re- 
ceived the  sanction  of  legislative  enactment,  March 
1,  1851. 

The  corporators  met  in  Hiram  the  same  month, 
and,  in  anticipation  of  the  confirmation  of  the  char- 
ter, they  appointed  the  following  gentlemen  a  build- 
ing committee,  viz. :  Jason  Ryder,  Carnot  Mason, 
Alvah  Udall,  Zeb  Rudolph,  and  Pelatiah  Allyn,  Jr. 
At  the  same  time  Wm.  Hayden  was  appointed  a  so- 
liciting agent  to  procure  funds  for  the  building. 
They  also  purchased  of  Thos.  F.  Young,  Esq., 
grounds  for  the  school,  at  the  center  of  Hiram.  In 
the  midst  of  that  beautiful  plateau  of  about  eight  acres 
the  edifice  of  the  Eclectic  Institute  was  erected. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  which  had  been  an- 
nounced as  the  day  for  opening — a  full  suite  of 
rooms  was  ready  for  the  reception  students. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  the 
position  of  Principal  was  unanimously  tendered  to 
A.  S.  Hayden,  of  East  Cleveland.  He  accepted  the 
position  for  five  years,  not  doubting  that  in  that  time 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


265 


the  institution  would  be  firmly  established,  and  permit 
him  to  return  to  his  chosen  life  work  of  preaching 
thf  gospel.  This  period  of  five  years  was  extended 
to  seven,  when  his  original  purpose  to  retire  was 
fulfilled  in  his  resignation,  June,  1857.  At  the  same 
meeting  the  Board  unanimously  elected  Thos.  Mun- 
nell,  an  honorable  graduate  of  Bethany  College,  to 
the  chair  of  ancient  languages.  Mrs.  Phebe  Drake 
was  called  to  be  Principal  of  the  primary  department. 
With  these  teachers,  on  the  27th  of  November, 
1850,  the  Western  Reserve  Eclectic  Institute  com- 
menced its  career.  Eighty-four  students  were  en- 
rolled the  first  day. 

The  natal  day  of  the  Eclectic  was  celebrated  by 
a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  friends  of  the  institution 
from  abroad,  and  of  the  citizens  of  Hiram,  held  in 
the  meeting-house.  Able  addresses  were  delivered 
by  Wm.  Hayden,  A.  B.  Green,  J.  H.  Jones,  and 
others,  upon  the  principles  and  objects  of  the  school. 
The  speakers  proclaimed  it  the  completion  of  long 
cherished  purposes,  the  realization  of  many  anxieties 
and  hopes.  It  was  the  accomplishment  of  a  fact 
which  would  centralize  our  labors,  quicken  our  hopes, 
and  animate  our  pleadings  for  the  gospel.  This  hill, 
it  was  predicted,  would  yet  become  a  Minerva,  a 
center  and  source  of  light,  of  literature,  and  of  re- 
finement. From  this  place  would  go  forth  men  of 
ample  moral  and  mental  growth,  to  fill  stations  of 
honor  and  usefulness  in  all  departments  of  social 
life.  The  churches  would  send  young  men  to  gain 
here  the  skill  and  power  to  plead  the  gospel,  and  to 
lift  up  the  cause  of  human  redemption. 

The  students  increased  so  rapidly  that  the  cura- 
23 


266  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

tors  were  obliged  to  call,  during  the  first  term,  the 
assistance  of  C.  D.  Wilber  who  had  just  gone  to 
complete  his  course  of  study  in  Bethany  College.  A 
few  weeks  after,  Miss  Almeda  A.  Booth  was  added 
to  the  corps  of  instructors.  The  next  term  the  influx 
01  patronage  justified  the  Board  in  electing  Norman 
Dunshee  to  the  chair  of  mathematics  and  modern 
languages. 

From  this  period  the  Institute  has  been  before  the 
eyes  of  the  public,  and  its  history  is  in  the  hearts  of 
thousands  of  admiring  students,  who  have  from  time 
to  time  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  its  moral  instruction 
and  intellectual  culture. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


267 


CHAPTER  XII. 


The  cause  planted  in  Sharon — Four  evangelists  in  the  field — The 
church  in  Hubbard — John  Applegate — Bazetta  receives  the 
word — Biography  of  Calvin  Smith. 

IN  Sharon,  on  the  Shenango,  over  the  border  in 
Pennsylvania,  was  a  church  under  Baptist  col- 
ors. It  was  constituted  in  1804,  with  twenty-eight 
members.  In  1806,  it  sent  Thomas  G.  Jones,  A. 
Bentley,  then  young,  Jesse  Hall,  John  Morford  and 
Ed.  Wright,  as  messengers  to  the  Red  Stone  Asso- 
ciation, in  Brooke  County,  Va.  In  18 14,  Isaiah  Jones, 
the  father  of  our  J.  H.  Jones,  appears  as  its  messen- 
ger. For  a  few  years  before  the  principles  of  reform- 
ation made  a  stir,  this  church  had  associated  with 
those  on  the  Western  Reserve.  The  elements  in  it 
were  not  harmoniously  blended.  The  family  of  Mc- 
Cleery  had  emigrated  from  Tubbermore,  Ireland, 
where  they  had  profited  by  the  instructions  of  that 
profound  teacher,  Alexander  Carson.  Holding  clear 
views  of  the  Bible,  they  responded  promptly  to  the 
call  for  setting  the  churches  in  order,  according  to 
New  Testament  usages.  The  father,  John  McCleery, 
to  venerable  years  added  intelligence  and  decision. 
His  sons,  George,  a  preacher,  and  Hugh,  a  genial, 
and  also  an  influential  member,  and  others  of  the 
same  enterprising  family,  were  awake  to  the  reform- 
atory movement  which  was  making  conquests  in  all 
quarters.    The  opposition  was  aroused  to  prevent 


268  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

the  spread  of  these  new  doctrines  ;  but  these  breth- 
ren plead  for  the  justice  of  a  fair  hearing  of  them, 
before  they  should  be  condemned.  Hugh  McCleery 
went  to  Warren  for  Bentley  and  Scott,  who  were 
soon  on  the  ground,  and  who  preached  in  Sharon  the 
same  gospel  which  began  in  Jerusalem  eighteen  hun- 
dred years  ago.  The  same  results  followed ;  for 
"  those  who  gladly  received  the  word  were  baptized  ;  " 
and  had  the  church  been  the  same  as  that  at  Jerusa- 
lem, it  might  have  been  said,  "  and  the  same  day  they 
were  added  "  to  the  church.  But  the  church  utterly 
refused  them  admittance,  because  they  had  not  come 
before  the  members,  told  a  "  Christian  experience," 
and  been  accepted  by  a  vote  of  the  church.  Bentley 
had  already  gone,  and  Scott  left  them  immediately 
after  these  conversions.  Elder  Thomas  Campbell 
then  came,  but  all  his  influence  for  reconciliation  was 
unavailing.  He  wrote  to  the  church  a  very  concilia- 
tory letter,  deprecating  division,  and  beseeching  them 
to  shelter  the  lambs.  The  reply  was  a  stern  refusal. 
Meanwhile,  the  time  arrived  for  the  "June  meeting" 
of  the  Baptists,  to  assemble  in  Sharon.  Scott  and 
Bentley  had  returned,  but  the  hostility  was  now  so 
bitter  that  these  three  excellent  and  venerable  minis- 
ters, as  also  all  who  sympathized  with  them,  were 
expressly  refused  admittance  into  their  meeting-house. 
The  excitement  in  the  community  was  running  high, 
and  Daniel  Budd,  Esq.,  a  reputable  gentleman,  fitted 
up  his  barn  and  opened  it  to  the  reformers,  where, 
on  Saturday,  Sunday  and  Monday,  they  proclaimed, 
to  a  multitude  of  people,  the  ancient  gospel,  which 
had  filled  the  Roman  Empire  with  its  conquests  be- 
fore any  of  the  modern  sects  arose.    On  Monday,  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


269 


fourth  one  in  June,  1829,  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
after  the  baptism  of  some  converts,  was  formed  the 
church  of  Christ  in  Sharon.  They  were  forced  to 
this  step,  after  much  persevering  effort  to  prevent 
a  separation.  Seventeen  of  the  Baptist  members 
united  then,  and  more  soon  afterward.  About  thirty 
were  that  day  enrolled  with  devout  invocations  by 
these  three  brethren,  for  blessings  upon  them  from 
the  Head  of  the  church.  George  Bentley,  Bashara 
Hull,  with  their  families,  and  the  McCleery  family, 
were  in  the  newly  organized  church. 

The  declared  policy  of  the  old  church  was  non-in- 
tercourse. A  resolution  was  passed  excluding  the 
wives  of  Benjamin  Reno  and  James  Morford,  for 
breaking  the  loaf  with  the  disciples.  The  former, 
who  was  a  deacon,  arose  and  protested  against  such 
an  unchristian  act,  and  announced  his  withdrawal 
from  their  fellowship.  Morford,  a  deacon  and  clerk, 
laid  down  his  pen,  his  office  and  his  membership, 
refusing  to  be  a  party  to  such  a  proceeding.  Both 
became  pillars  in  the  new  organization.  The  church, 
by  resolution,  excluded  all  who  united  with  the  dis- 
ciples. 

The  new  church  had  considerable  talent  in  its  mem- 
bers ;  and  they  were  firm,  zealous  and  united.  Con- 
verts were  multiplied.  Hayden  came  often  among 
them,  as  did  Henry  also,  and  the  persuasive  Bos- 
worth.  Applegate  was  near,  and  was  quick  to  help. 
Allerton  visited  them  and  brought  in  a  large  number. 
And  "  having  obtained  help  from  God  "  through  the 
hands  of  many  of  his  servants,  they  continue  a  pros- 
perous brotherhood  in  Christ. 

These  brethren  have  done  much  for  Christ.  Two 


270  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ministers  have  arisen  among  them,  Prof.  Amaziah 
Hull,  of  Oscaloosa,  Iowa,  and  J.  B.  McCleery,  of 
Kansas.  Many  of  great  usefulness  in  the  West  were 
trained  for  their  work  in  Sharon. 

The  association  was  appointed  to  meet  in  this 
(Baptist)  church  in  Sharon,  August,  1829,  little  an- 
ticipating the  revolution  which  was  to  take  place  in  it 
before  that  time.  When  that  body  convened,  it  found 
a  new  church,  just  organized  on  purely  gospel  grounds, 
all  alive  and  strong  in  faith,  ready  to  give  it  welcome. 
A  very  large  and  joyful  meeting  was  the  result.  It 
was  attended  by  T.  Campbell,  Scott,  Bentley,  Hay- 
den,  Henry,  Bosworth,  Applegate,  McCleery,  and 
many  others.  It  kept  no  records ;  nor  did  the  great 
one  at  Warren  transmit  any  account  of  its  transac- 
tions.   This  was  doubtless  an  error  and  a  misfortune. 

The  reports  from  all  parts  of  the  field  were  highly 
encouraging,  and  the  association  lelt  called  upon  to 
send  out  more  reapers  into  the  ripening  fields.  It 
selected  four  brethren,  Scott,  of  Canfield  ;  Hayden,  of 
Austintown  ;  Bentley  of  Warren  ;  and  Bosworth  of 
Braceville  ;  all  of  Trumbull  County  ;  and  sent  them 
out  under  the  seal  of  her  sanction  and  authority  to  go 
forth  "  to  preach  and  teach  Jesus  Christ." 

A  System  of  Itineracy. 

These  four  proclaimers  formed  for  themselves,  and 
followed  during  the  greater  part  of  the  years  1829-30, 
a  very  complete  and  simple  plan.  It  was  understood 
to  be  chiefly  the  work  of  William  Hayden.  The  writer  , 
of  these  notes,  from  an  original  sketch  put  into  his 
hands  by  him,  prepared  a  copy  of  it  for  each  of  the 
evangelists. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


271 


A  circuit  was  established,  including  sixteen  stations 
at  convenient  distances  apart.  It  was  arranged  that 
four  of  the  places  should  have  preaching  every  Lord's 
day  ;  and  also,  that  in  the  course  of  a  month  each  of 
the  sixteen  places  would  be  favored  with  a  Lord's 
day  service.  The  other  days  of  the  week  being  also 
employed,  all  of  these  posts  had  frequent  preaching. 

Several  advantages  resulted  from  this  arrangement : 

1.  As  the  preachers  followed  one  another  in  a  reg- 
ular and  fixed  order,  the  churches  always  knew  who 
was  coming ; 

2.  They  had  regular  times  for  the  preaching  and 
knew  when  to  expect  it ; 

3.  Each  preacher  knew,  at  any  time,  where  each 
one  of  the  others  was  ; 

4.  It  afforded  a  profitable  variety  of  talent  and  in- 
struction, giving  to  each  community  the  benefit  of  all 
the  talents  ; 

5.  It  removed  any  grounds  of  dissatisfaction  aris- 
ing from  the  practice  of  limiting  the  more  brilliant 
speakers  to  the  stronger  communities,  leaving  to  the 
weaker  places  the  less  eligible  gifts  ;  a  practice  which 
has  caused  many  a  well  begun  opening  to  wither,  and 
forced  many  an  honest  and  earnest  worker  out  of  the 
field. 

This  scheme  of  "  circuit  preaching"  pleased  as  long 
as  it  lasted.  But  there  was  no  general  manager  who, 
as  openings  were  made  beyond  these  limits,  could 
"  send  forth  more  laborers  into  the  vineyard."  More- 
over, the  "laborers  were  few  ;  "  consequently,  as  the 
Macedonian  cry  came  up  from  all  quarters,  by  letters 
and  by  messengers,  it  became  impossible  to  confine 
these  evangelists.    They  could  not  resist  these  ap- 


2/2 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


peals.  Scott,  somewhat  erratic,  distanced  all  bounds. 
He  was  moved  at  beholding  the  whole  country  a  prey 
to  sectarianism,  and  having  the  jewel  of  the  "  ancient 
gospel "  in  his  possession,  he  was  confident  it  would 
soon  turn  the  whole  mutilated  and  dismembered  pro- 
fession of  Christianity  back  to  the  original  apostolic 
unity.  So,  like  a  hero  dismantled  of  arrangements 
which  he  felt  to  be  an  encumbrance,  he  flew  where 
the  finger  of  God  directed,  and  stirred  the  land  with 
the  tidings  of  the  gospel. 

The  others  maintained  their  course  for  awhile. 
But  one  after  another  they  yielded  to  calls  for  help, 
and  so  fell  this  first  attempt  at  systematic  order  in 
preaching  the  gospel. 

The  Church  in  Hubbard. 

Jesse  Hall,  for  more  than  fifteen  years,  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Sharon,  Pa.,  and 
though  living  about  six  miles  distant  he  was  a  regu- 
lar attendant.  He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  char- 
acter, of  broad  sense,  zealous,  and  given  to  hospitality. 
Such  a  man  could  scarcely  fail  to  gather  Christian 
people  around  him.  In  the  year  1820  a  church,  of 
the  same  name  and  order,  was  formed  at  his  residence 
in  Hubbard,  in  which  himself,  A.  K.  Cramer,  Archi- 
bald Price,  James  Price,  Walter  Clark  and  Silas  Bur- 
nett, with  their  families,  were  prominent  members. 
Jesse  Hall  was,  by  far,  the  most  influential  man  in 
this  organization,  and  as  deacon,  he  was  the  leader/ 
councillor  and  chief  manager.  For  a  considerable 
time  it  was  the  "church  in  his  house."  He  was  just 
the  man  to  welcome  the  "Christian  Baptist;"  and 
though  he  was  very  firm  in  purpose,  the  floods  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  273 

light  poured  upon  the  world  by  that  work  revealed 
to  his  penetrating  mind,  a  Bible  basis  for  the  Church 
of  God  not  yet  fully  discovered  by  the  rival  sects  of 
Christendom.  In  1828,  when  Walter  Scott  came 
among  them,  as  the  evangelist  of  the  association, 
most  of  the  members  were  prepared  to  receive  him 
warmly.  His  forcible  preaching  compelled  a  crisis, 
and  the  whole  church,  eight  or  ten  only  excepted,  dis- 
carded the  creed  and  the  name  of  the  party,  and 
adopted  the  New  Covenant  as  the  divinely  appointed 
basis  of  the  church,  with  only  such  names  as  the  New 
Testament  writers  employ  to  describe  the  people  of 
God. 

The  church  thus  newly  formed  had  about  forty 
members.  Jesse  Hall  and  John  Applegate  were  ap- 
pointed the  overseers.  They  served  with  great  fidelity 
for  about  twenty-five  years.  Their  successors  were 
Oliver  Hart  and  Warren  Burton.  Orenous  Hart 
and  David  Waldruff  have  served  the  church  in  the 
same  capacity.  And  now,  James  Struble,  H.  Green 
and  A.  K.  Cramer,  Jr.,  are  the  acting  elders. 

Under  the  efficient  management  of  her  officers  the 
church  grew  in  grace  and  in  numbers.  The  zeal  of 
the  brotherhood  knew  no  bounds.  Applegate,  under 
the  judicious  counsels  of  his  able  co-elder,  soon  be- 
came a  preacher  who,  while  he  traveled  much  abroad, 
served  his  own  church  in  public  instruction  for  at 
least  twenty  years.  But  they  were  not  stinted  in 
their  views,  and  in  the  earlier  days  Hubbard  gained 
great  renown  for  the  victories  in  behalf  of  the  truth 
through  their  own  prayers  and  activities,  and  the  co- 
operative labors  of  Scott,  Bentley,  Hayden,  Henry, 
Hartzel,  Alton,  Saunders,  and  both  the  Bosworths  ; 


274  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

and  a  little  later,  of  John  T.  Smith,  Brockett  and 
Perky.  Bro.  J.  W.  Lanphear  is  cherished  for  his 
able  defenses  of  the  truth  in  that  place.  In  after 
times,  W.  T.  Horner,  William  S.  Winfield,  Willard 
Goodrich,  Matthias  Christy,  Harmon  Reeves,  C.  C. 
Smith  and  J.  A.  Thayer  have  co-operated  in  extend- 
ing and  building  up  the  church. 

In  August,  1837,  the  yearly  meeting  for  Trumbull 
County  met  in  Hubbard.  It  was  one  of  the  largest 
assemblies  ever  gathered  on  the  Reserve.  Preachers 
and  people  came  from  far  in  those  days,  creating  great 
enthusiasm.  To  this  one  came  Campbell,  Bentley,  the 
Bosworths,  Henry,  Hartzel,  G.  W.  Lucy,  Applegate, 
Clapp,  Rudolph,  J.  J.  Moss,  and  A.  S.  Hayden  ;  nearly 
all  of  whom  preached,  exhorted,  and  held  evening 
meetings  during  the  great  occasion.  There  were  thir- 
teen converts. 

Two  years  later,  this  church  had  an  accession  of 
several  members  during  a  meeting  in  Youngstown, 
conducted  by  A.  Campbell.  Among  them  were  Jesse 
Hall,  Jr.,  Aaron  Smith,  James  Struble,  Moses  Cole 
and  Jesse  Hougland. 

The  growth  of  the  church  has  been  gradual.  No 
root  of  bitterness  has  ever  sprung  up  to  cause  a  divis- 
ion. They  began  without  any  church  property. 
For  a  few  years,  they  held  meetings  in  a  building 
rather  useful  than  costly,  owned  by  the  elder  Jesse 
Hall,  and  which  he  finally  deeded  to  the  trustees, 
with  the  grounds  belonging  to  it.  Subsequently, 
they  erected  on  eligible  grounds  a  permanent  and 
valuable  edifice  ;  and  with  a  present  living  member- 
ship of  one  hundred  and  seventy  five,  the  church  in 
Hubbard  seems  likely  to  pass  from  the  present  into 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


275 


the  bands  of  the  next  generation,  a  light  and  a  bless- 
ing to  that  whole  country. 

Sketch  of  John  Applegate. 

"Tell  us  the  story  of  the  earlier  times.  Describe  the 
men  who  lived  in  them,  and  relate  to  us  their  deeds."  So 
cry  out  thousands,  to  whom  the  stirring  events  and  the 
struggles  which  made  and  marked  our  early  history  have 
come  down  in  mere  fragments  of  information.  It  is  not 
mere  curiosity  which  prompts  the  call  for  this  knowledge. 
It  is  a  just  and  laudable  desire  for  a  knowledge  of  the  causes 
and  conditions  which  originated  this  great  work,  the  effort 
to  recover  the  Christian  institution,  in  all  its  parts,  from 
the  mixture  and  corruptions  of  the  long,  dark  day  of  papal 
superstition.  Gratitude,  doubtless,  also  mingles  in  the 
demand,  that  due  honor  may  be  rendered  to  the  moral 
heroes  to  whom  this  generation  is  greatly  indebted  for 
their  prompt  espousal  of  the  truth,  then  freshly .  brought 
out  from  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  for  their  able,  untiring, 
and  self-sacrificing  advocacy  of  it  amid  fearful  struggles 
and  against  formidable  foes. 

Beloved  among  these  memorable  men,  and  distinguished 
in  the  circle  of  his  labors,  was  Bro.  John  Applegate.  He 
was  born  May  13,  1797,  in  Bordentown,  N.  J.  Cradled 
in  the  lap  of  frugal  industry,  he  early  saw  the  practical  side 
of  life,  from  the  necessity  imposed  on  him  to  contribute  to 
the  wants  of  the  family.  Ohio,  at  the  time  of  his  removal 
into  it,  had  been  only  five  years  a  member  of  the  Federal 
Union.  Its  fertile  soil  was  the  El  Dorado  of  hope  to  the 
working  people  in  the  States  of  the  sea-board.  The  West- 
ern Reserve,  in  particular,  was  receiving  large  accessions 
to  its  young  population  by  immigration  from  New  Eng- 
land and  other  portions  of  the  East.  To  this  inviting  land 
came  the  Applegate  family,  when  John,  the  subject  of  this 


276  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

sketch,  was  only  ten  years  of  age.  They  settled  in  Hub- 
bard, Trumbull  County. 

Through  his  father  he  inherited  the  Baptist  faith.  His 
mother  was  a  pure-minded,  conscientious  adherent  of  the 
Quaker  doctrine.  John,  very  early  in  life,  was  the  subject 
of  deep  and  pungent  religious  convictions.  From  about 
the  fifteenth  year  of  his  age  up  to  his  twenty-first  year, 
the  tempests  of  religious  conviction,  with  all  their  harass- 
ing doubts,  despondencies,  and  dimly  gleaming  hopes, 
swept  across  his  breast.  The  gospel  of  his  day  was  moul- 
ded in  the  most  rigid  school  of  Calvinism.  Its  doctrines 
resounded  in  thundering  tones  in  groves,  under  forest  trees, 
and  in  school-houses,  by  the  Knox-like  preachers  of  that 
early  time. 

No  sweet  voice  from  Calvary  came  to  his  terrified  con- 
science. He  languished  for  relief.  Sometimes  he  quite 
resolved  to  abandon  hope,  and  yield  ;  to  sink  down  among 
the  eternally  lost.  Then  from  this  vortex  he  fled,  shud- 
dering at  the  horrible  despair.  He  saw  Calvary,  and  the 
meek  sufferer  there,  "but,  oh!  for  the  elect  alone  he 
suffers  there  and  bleeds.  Oh!  that  I  could  but  know  it 
was  for  me  !  1  Come,'  he  says,  '  come  unto  me — you  shall 
find  rest.'  But,  then,"  his  soul  in  anguish  cried,  "'that 
blessed  voice  is  for  the  elect  alone;  I  may  not  be  one;  I 
dare  not  stir  to  go,"  If  some  earnest  comforter  spoke  of 
the  loving  Jesus,  and  of  his  invitation  to  sinners — "  Yes, 
but  I  know  not  the  way — I  can  do  nothing  but  wait ;  if  I 
am  to  be  lost,  I  can  but  fulfill  my  destined  doom."  A 
genuine  "experience"  it  was,  according  to  the  standards 
of  that  day.  Much  of  it  ever  remained  a  blessed  memorial 
in  his  humble  and  truly  Christian  heart.  Yet  how  much 
of  needless  torture  might  have  been  saved  him  ;  how  much 
earlier  he  might  have  found  "peace  in  believing,"  had  the 
plain  gospel  plan  of  salvation  been  pointed  out  to  him  in 
the  hour  when  he  was  seeking  to  "  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come !  " 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  277 

At  length  the  "darkened  cloud"  withdrew,  and  peace 
shone  in  on  his  soul.  He  gave  in  his  experience,  was  re- 
ceived by  the  vote  of  the  church,  and  was  baptized  in  a 
stream  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence,  in  the  month  of 
March,  181 8,  by  Elder  West.  He  was  then  in  his  twenty- 
first  year. 

About  the  same  time  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fanny 
Cramer,  a  woman  worthy  of  his  affections,  and  who,  with 
even  step  and  equal  hand,  bore  her  full  share  of  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  her  position.  Abounding  in  the  domes- 
tic virtues,  she  managed  her  household  with  great  prudence 
and  discretion,  and  lived  his  faithful  companion  in  all  his 
life-work  till  very  near  his  own  departure. 

Immediately  after  his  conversion,  he  began  to  "exercise" 
in  meetings.  He  was  a  rapid  and  ready  talker.  His  articu- 
lation was  very  distinct  and  complete.  He  commanded  a 
good  voice,  penetrating,  and  very  agreeable  to  the  ear. 
He  was  a  singer  of  more  than  common  excellence.  He 
soon  filled  his  soul,  and  the  meetings,  too,  with  the  songs 
of  joy  in  which  he  expressed  the  peace  and  hope,  and  love 
of  a  new-born  soul. 

He  continued  to  work  among  the  Baptists  for  six  or  seven 
years,  distinguished  for  great  activity  and  a  burning  zeal. 
Wherever  a  word  could  be  spoken  for  the  Master,  his  diffi- 
dence yielded  to  the  pressing  sense  of  duty  and  the  ear- 
nest impulses  of  his  warm  Christian  heart. 

The  churches  and  ministers  in  all  North-eastern  Ohio 
were  beginning  to  be  agitated  by  certain  views — by  some, 
looked  upon  as  dangerous,  by  all  regarded  as  novel  and 
bold — of  the  Campbell's,  father  and  son.  In  the  year 
1826,  Applegate  heard  these  gifted  men  in  Warren.  His 
free  mind  was,  by  his  own  reading  of  the  word  of  God, 
partially  prepared  to  receive  some  modifications  of  those 
rigid  views  which  had  caused  so  much  trouble  in  his  own 
experience,  and  he  went  with  the  determination  to  hear 
fearlessly,  and  give  due  weight  to  all  he  heard.    But  he 


278  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


was  cautious ;  and  on  returning,  he  received  the  faithful 
chidings  and  reprimands  of  the  older  brethren  for  giving 
heed  to  new  things. 

Soon  after  this,  Walter  Scott  came  to  Austintown.  He 
was  producing  there  a  great  stir  among  the  people.  This 
was  the  spring  of  1828.  All  the  way  from  Hubbard  to 
Austintown  came  Applegate  to  hear  Scott.  He  was  afraid 
of  him.  Bentley,  from  Warren,  and  Schooley,  from  Sa- 
lem, were  also  there.  After  the  hearing,  Applegate  drew 
the  sword  and  joined  in  battle.  The  method  of  enlisting 
converts  was  too  quick.  Genuine  conversion  could  not  be 
so  short  a  work.  Faith,  "with  all  the  heart,"  in  Jesus 
was  not  enough  to  prepare  for  baptism,  without  relating  an 
experience,  such  as  the  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel  could 
approve.  So  went  the  investigation.  He  thought  he 
"  whipped  them  all  out ;  "  and,  reiterating  the  ancient  cry, 
"To  your  tents,  O  Israel,"  he  took  leave  of  them  and  de- 
parted. Riding  on  a  few  miles,  his  horse  went  slower,  as 
he  thought  over  what  he  had  heard.  At  length  he  halted, 
and  resolved  to  return  and  give  these  brethren  a  farther 
hearing.  This  he  did,  and  on  leaving  them  a  second  time, 
Scott  and  Bentley  sent  by  him  an  appointment  for  Hub- 
bard. 

He  addressed  himself  with  new  zeal,  with  deep  and 
prayerful  interest,  to  the  study  of  the  word  of  God,  re- 
solved to  be  fully  prepared  to  meet  and  discomfit  them. 
But  this  reading  partially  disarmed  him.  He  decided  to 
"let  them  alone,"  lest  he  might  be  fighting  against  the 
truth. 

The  winter  of  1829-30  saw  the  full  consummation  of 
these  changes  in  his  views.  Bolder  now  became  his  testi- 
mony. He  read  the  Word  of  Life  to  the  people,  and 
testified  publicly  every-where.  Authorized  by  the  church, 
he  went  to  other  places  to  teach  the  way  of  life ;  and  without 
any  direct  intention  on  his  part,  and  before  he  was  aware 
of  it,  Applegate  "was  among  the  preachers."    He  visited 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  279 

Brookfield,  Hartford,  Fowler,  Bazetta,  and  many  other 
places,  exhorting  the  brethren  ;  and  wherever  he  went  he 
revived  the  spirits  of  the  fainting,  and  poured  the  oil  of 
joy  into  the  souls  of  the  Lord's  people. 

Few  men  were  ever  more  patient,  persevering,  or  endur- 
ing of  privation  and  toil,  in  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  Unpaid,  yet  uncomplaining,  he  trav- 
eled on  horseback,  often  afoot,  over  the  rough  roads  of 
a  country  yet  new,  never  failing  to  meeet  his  appointments. 
Impelled  by  a  lofty  and  sacred  sense  of  duty,  he  denied 
himself  the  happiness  of  a  home,  whose  limited  store  of 
earthly  wealth  was  sweetened  by  the  endearments  of  pure, 
genial  and  religious  affection,  that  he  might  teach  sinners 
in  the  great  congregation  the  plain  way  of  the  Gospel  of 
God's  salvation.  In  those  days  preaching  "  paid  "  poorly 
in  the  pocket.  Nor  was  fame  reaped  from  it.  Surely  the 
long-continued  toils  and  hardships  of  the  preachers  of 
that  early  day  of  the  Reformation  vindicate  them  from  all 
imputations  of  selfishness,  and  stamp  them  with  a  lofty 
zeal  and  heroic  chivalry  worthy  of  all  admiration. 

Among  all  our  early  preachers  no  one  had  less  of  vain 
ambition.  Without  guile  and  without  envy,  he  was  happy 
when  others  preached.  If  any  surpassed  him  in  apparent 
public  usefulness,  or  won  more  rapidly  the  favor  of  the 
people,  his  joy  at  the  success  of  the  Master's  work  suffered 
no  abatement  through  envy.  He  esteemed  other  preachers 
better  than  himself,  and  voluntarily  chose  the  lower  seat 
at  the  great  spiritual  feasts  when  many  proclaimers  of  the 
gospel  and  multitudes  of  souls  assembled  at  the  great 
yearly  meetings  of  North-eastern  Ohio.  Yet  was  he 
not  the  less  esteemed,  and  the  greetings  of  the  people 
testified  the  depth  and  sincerity  of  their  affection  for  him. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1866,  he  removed  from  Hub- 
bard, so  long  his  home,  to  Iowa,  to  reside  with  his  young- 
est son  Charles,  near  Monticello,  Jones  County.  Two 
years  after  his  removal  came  the  time  of  his  mourning  for 


280  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  death  of  his  wife.  During  their  long  pilgrimage,  so 
complete  had  been  their  union  in  life,  so  like  a  stream 
without  a  ripple  or  an  eddy  had  flowed  their  mutual  affec- 
tion, that  her  death  was  a  shock  almost  insupportable. 
Five  or  six  months  after  this  event,  in  the  fall  of  1868,  he 
returned  to  Ohio,  visited  well-remembered  friends,  and 
extended  his  journey  to  his  original  home  in  the  State 
of  New  Jersey.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  returned  again  to 
Iowa,  and  made  his  home  with  his  sons,  James  and  Charles. 
Though  age  was  now  on  him,  and  the  "  outer  man"  be- 
ginning to  show  signs  of  decay,  he  still  preached  almost 
every  Lord's  day.  A  peace-maker  still,  as  in  all  his  life, 
he  labored  to  reconcile  differences  among  brethren,  some 
instances  of  which,  among  the  very  last  acts  of  his  life, 
are  cherished  with  gratitude  by  the  brethren  where  these 
ministrations  of  mercy  were  performed.  He  preached  his 
last  sermon  at  Nugent's  Grove,  Linn  County.  Overex- 
ertion and  a  sudden  change  of  weather  caused  a  severe 
cold.  Typhoid  fever  followed,  from  which  he  never  re- 
covered. Nearly  eight  weeks  he  languished  under  this 
terrible  scourge.  His  love  of  singing  continued  to  the 
last.  Frequently  during  his  sickness  he  raised  his  feeble 
voice  in  melodious  praise. 

Near  the  closing  scene  he  was  visited  by  Rev.   Wil- 
son, a  Presbyterian  minister,  who  asked  him  if  he  knew 
him.  By  a  nod  of  the  head  he  gave  the  affirmative  reply. 
Mr.  Wilson  then  repeated  a  part  of  the  twenty-third  Psalm: 
"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want."  The  dy- 
ing hero  waved  another  response,  and  soon  the  vessel  of 
clay  alone  remained. 

Thus  died,  on  the  17th  day  of  February,  1871,  in  Scotch 
Grove,  Jones  County,  Iowa,  at  the  residence  of  his  son 
James,  Elder  John  Applegate,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year 
of  his  age,  having  been  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  over  forty 
years. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


28l 


Bazetta — Baconsburg. 

The  Baptist  church  here  was  formed  January  22, 
1820 — eight  members.  James  and  Dorcas  Bowen, 
William  and  Anna  Davis,  Samuel  and  Rachel  Hoad- 
ley,  and  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Bacon,  were  dismissed 
from  the  church  in  Warren  for  that  purpose.  These, 
with  Asher  and  Esther  Coburn,  Samuel  B.  Tanner 
and  Anna  Tanner,  Martin  Daniels  and  a  few  others, 
composed  the  church.  Four  persons,  baptized  the 
day  previous,  of  whom  Eben  R.  Coburn  and  John  F. 
Coburn  were  two,  were  received  that  day.  Bro. 
Bentley  officiated.  Asher  Coburn  and  Samuel  Hoad- 
ley  were  the  first  deacons.  No  bishops  were  ap- 
pointed, the  Baptist  order  recognizing  no  such  officers 
apart  from  the  preachers. 

This  church  continued  till  the  "  times  of  reforma- 
tion." Her  highest  reported  number,  at  any  time, 
was  forty-four.  Bro.  Edward  Scofield,  one  of  their 
number,  was  an  earnest  Christian,  a  man  of  liberal 
views.  Being  a  good  exhorter,  he  was  very  useful. 
He  got  hold  of  the  "  Christian  Baptist."  Its  editor, 
in  his  triumphant  vindication  of  the  scriptural  bap- 
tism in  his  debates  with  Walker  and  McCalla,  had 
made  a  highly  favorable  impression  on  the  Baptists 
every-where.  •  He  had  thus  gained  their  confidence, 
which  gave  a  wide  circulation  to  this  his  first  periodi- 
cal. The  reformation  for  which  he  plead  was  not  a 
negation.  It  consisted  in  a  well  matured  effort  to 
introduce  Bible  views,  and  to  establish  New  Testa- 
ment Christianity.  Such  views,  so  clearly  propoun- 
ded, and  so  well  sustained  by  argument  and  Scrip- 
ture, created  a  commotion  every-where — some  advo- 
24 


282  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

eating,  some  opposing  them.  The  brethren  in  Ba- 
zetta  were  not  behind  in  these  investigations.  The 
traditions  of  less  favored  times  were  losing  their  hold 
on  the  people.  The  great  stir  in  Warren,  in  January, 
1828,  shook  the  church  in  Bazetta  like  the  heavings 
of  an  earthquake.  Indeed,  its  impulse  spread  like  a 
tidal  wave  over  the  country.  It  was  a  time  of  Bible 
research,  such  as  had  not  been  known.  The  eman- 
cipation from  the  traditions  of  the  church  was  com- 
plete— deference  to  the  teachings  of  God's  word  was 
equally  complete.  The  "  lively  oracles  "  were  accepted 
as  meaning  what  they  said.  This  grand  principle 
brought  all  parties  face  to  face  on  the  Bible.  People 
studied  it  as  they  never  had  before.  It  was  custom- 
ary to  keep  a  copy  at  hand,  on  the  desk,  or  the  coun- 
ter, that  every-where,  and  on  all  occasions,  the  appeal 
to  it  could  be  instant,  and  its  decision  was  final.  The 
disciples  were  becoming  strong  in  the  faith  ;  many 
of  them  able  to  teach  others.  The  church  divided 
on  these  principles — the  greater  part  moving  on  under 
the  leadership  of  the  apostles,  a  small  minority  ad- 
hering to  the  received  standards. 

Among  the  converts  in  Scott's  meeting,  in  War- 
ren, were  Enos  Bacon  and  Daniel  Faunce.  At  their ' 
invitation,  Scott  and  Bentley  came  to  Bazetta  in  May, 
and  added  a  number  more  ;  who,  taking  member- 
ship in  the  existing  church,  were  counted  as  Baptists. 
In  the  fall  Thomas  Campbell  came  and  organized  the 
present  Church  of  Christ  in  Bazetta.  Bro.  Aaron 
Davis  writes  :  "  He  had  to  fight  every  inch  of  ground. 
There  was  division  in  the  ranks  of  the  Baptist  church, 
but  most  of  the  members  fell  in  with  the  *  new  doc- 
trines,' as  they  were  called.    This  stirred  the  ire  of 


IN  THE  .WESTERN  RESERVE. 


283 


Elder  Woodworth,  the  pastor.  The  contest  was 
sharp  for  awhile,  as  he  said  he  would  have  a  fair  fight 
in  an  open  field.  And  surely  it  was  sharp  for  a  time, 
but  he  was  soon  vanquished  ;  and  most  of  the  church 
fell  in  with  the  'new  doctrine/" 

The  church  numbered  twenty-eight  at  the  begin- 
ning. They  found  in  the  Scriptures  that,  under  the 
apostles'  teaching,  there  were  elders  in  every  church. 
Proceeding  to  organize  On  the  divine  model,  they 
elected  Samuel  Bacon,  Samuel  Hoadley  and  Asher 
Coburn,  bishops  or  elders  ;  and  James  Bowen  and 
Asher  W.  Coburn,  deacons.  This  was  done  in  Father 
Bacon's  barn,  the  only  place  they  could  get  for  their 
meetings.  In  the  fall,  when  cool  weather  came,  they 
repaired  to  his  house.  Finally  a  school-house  was 
obtained,  which  served,  for  a  few  years,  till  a  meet- 
ing-house was  erected.  During  this  period,  and  for 
many  years,  they  had  no  regular  preaching.  They 
were  served  in  occasional  appointments,  and  two 
days'  meetings,  by  the  preachers  then  in  the  field  ; 
and,  later,  by  Green,  Jones,  Brockett,  Phillips,  James 
Calvin,  Gates,  Henselman,  Dr.  T.  Hillock  and  I.  A. 
Thayer. 

Several  churches  arose  from  this  one.  West  Ba- 
zetta,  Fowler,  Mecca  and  Greene,  started  with  mem- 
bers from  this  hive.  In  respect  to  its  officers,  fewer 
changes  have  been  made  than  in  many  churches. 
After  Samuel  Hoadley,  one  of  the  first  overseers, 
John  Sanders  was  appointed.  He  served  a  few 
years.  After  him  Aaron  Davis,  who  has  stood  as  an 
elder  about  thirty-eight  years.  In  the  place  of  Sam- 
uel Bacon,  Calvin  Smith  was  chosen.  In  the  place 
of  Asher  Coburn,  the  lamented  Daniel  Faunce  was 


284  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


elected  overseer.  At  his  demise,  Otis  Coburn. 
Then,  after  him,  Seth  Hulse,  who  serves  now  with 
Davis.  The  present  number  is  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty.  A  good  house,  and  Bro.  R.  T.  Davis  for 
settled  preacher. 

Several  preachers  have  arisen  from  this  church. 
The  wise  and  excellent  James  Hadsel,  of  Indiana, 
arose  in  this  church.  John  T.  Phillips  began  here, 
though  he  was  not  sent  out  by  this  congregation. 
Here  Harvey  Brockett — the  sainted  Brockett — was 
helped  on  his  feet.  They  found  him  in  Farmington, 
showing  zeal  and  ability  in  exhortation,  which  gave 
promise  of  a  bright  future.  They  moved  his  family 
to  Bazetta,  and  with  some  help  from  abroad,  they 
purchased  and  gave  him  thirty-five  acres  of  land  for 
a  home.  And  Calvin  Smith,  famous  above  his  asso- 
ciates. 

The  church  in  Bazetta  has  long  been  generous  in 
sustaining  the  yearly  meetings  of  the  county ;  one 
held  in  August,  1841,  is  spoken  of  with  much  inter- 
est. It  was  attended  by  Henry,  Lanphear,  S.  Church, 
Green,  Jones,  Dr.  Robison,  Winfield,  Brockett  and 
others.  There  were  thirty-nine  conversions  ;  Bro. 
John  T.  Phillips  was  one  of  that  number. 

Biography  of  Calvin  Smith. 

Among  the  unchronicled  dead,  whose  labors  will  be  held 
in  perpetual  remembrance,  is  the  name  of  Calvin  Smith. 
He  lives  in  the  affectionate  remembrance  of  the  many 
whom  he  turned  to  righteousness.  Very  many  churches 
throughout  North-eastern  Ohio,  with  some  in  the  East,  to 
New  York  and  New  England,  and  in  the  West  to  Wiscon- 
sin and  Iowa,  will  never  cease  to  cherish  the  memory  of 
this  remarkable  man. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


285 


Calvin  Smith  was  born  October  30th,  1813,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Vernon,  Trumbull  County,  Ohio.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  between  five  and  six  years  old.  He  contin- 
ued to  live  in  poverty,  with  his  mother,  until  he  was  eleven 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  live  with  Ezekiel  Beach,  of 
the  same  town.  When  he  was  nearly  fourteen,  his  mother 
was  married  again  to  Isaac  Meecham,  of  Kinsman.  He 
chose  his  step-father  for  his  guardian,  who  bound  him  out 
to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade.  During  the  six  years  he  re- 
mained at  this  business,  he  was  employed  less  at  the  anvil 
than  at  the  desk,  as  an  accountant.  But  other  impulses 
fired  his  soul.  His  quick  discernment  and  penetrating 
mind  surveyed  the  wide  domains  of  our  intellectual  nature, 
and  he  longed  to  enter,  possess,  and  cultivate  that  prolific 
soil.  During  the  time  of  his  apprenticeship,  he  omitted 
no  opportunity  to  read  and  study.  With  a  temperament 
immensely  active,  with  a  keen  and  quick  discernment  and 
a  most  retentive  memory,  he  gathered  knowledge  as  the 
miser  gathers  gold.  At  twenty  he  bought  his  time  and 
commenced  teaching  school,  still  employing  every  availa- 
ble opportunity  to  advance  in  education. 

March  19th,  1835,  in  his  twenty-second  year,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Maria  Meecham,  whose  tastes  and  intel- 
lectual endowments  were  in  perfect  coincidence  with  his 
own.  This  proved  to  be  one  of  the  happiest  of  unions.  With 
views,  aims  and  purposes  the  same,  and  both  possessed  of 
great  energy,  and  abounding  in  hope,  they  accumulated 
a  competence,  founded  a  house,  and  established  a  name 
which  will  long  survive  their  own  generation.  For  two  or 
three  years  he  taught  winters,  and  summers  gave  his  ener- 
gies to  the  clearing  of  his  forest  farm. 

But,  though  ambitious,  his  purposes  of  life  had  not  been 
lifted  above  the  attainment  of  a  comfortable  home  and  an 
honorable  position  in  society.  His  heart  was  yet  unblessed 
with  the  light  and  truth  of  the  gospel.  I  quote  here  his 
journal :  "  I  was  wild  and  unconcerned  about  Christianity 


286  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

most  of  the  time.  When  I  was  about  nineteen,  I  attended 
a  meeting  or  two  held  by  Foot,  a  revivalist  of  the  Presby- 
terian order,  and  did  all  they  told  me  to  do,  but  did  not 
get  an  evidence  of  pardon,  and  was  afterwards  rather 
skeptical.  I  occasionally  heard  the  Disciples  preach,  and 
on  the  28th  of  May,  1837,  I  was  immersed  by  John  Henry, 
and  united  with  the  church." 

It  is  of  special  interest  to  pause  and  note  the  workings 
of  his  mind,  and  the  disposing  causes  which  acted  in  this 
happy  and  eventful  change  in  his  heart  and  life.  In  him 
existed  that  rare  and  admirable  adjustment  of  the  moral 
and  the  rational  natures  by  which  faith  is  sought,  but 
which  refuses  to  believe  without  rational  evidence.  He 
longed  for  1  ( religion. ' '  He  sought  for  ' '  grace. ' '  But  though 
he  eagerly  and  earnestly  sought,  human  promises  and  ex- 
pedients failed  to  satisfy  his  strong  mind,  which  desired  a 
firm  foundation  on  which  his  soul  could  lean  so  important 
a  trust.  Hence  his  disappointment;  and  hence  his  relapse 
into  skepticism — a  dark  and  dismal  despondency  from 
which  a  rare  man  and  mighty  power  alone  could  lift  him. 
In  the  guidings  of  a  good  Providence,  such  a  man  came. 
In  this  state  of  his  heart,  John  Henry,  whose  name  is  a 
synonym  for  peerless  power,  came  to  "  the  Burgh,"  in  Ba- 
zetta,  to  preach  the  gospel.  When  Henry  preached  all 
men  heard.  Smith  came,  heard,  learned,  and  believed. 
Such  preaching  he  could  understand.  It  was  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  instead  of  the  word  of  man.  The  men  were 
much  alike  in  mental  activities  and  social  life.  It  was 
David  and  Jonathan.  Each  kindled  life  in  the  other,  and 
both  were  greater  men. 

From  this  time  forward,  Calvin  Smith  was  a  new  man  ; 
but  his  great  work  of  life  had  not  yet  commenced.  June 
26,  1839,  he  was  chosen  Justice  of  the  Peace  by  the  suf- 
frages of  his  townsmen.  This  office  he  filled  for  nearly 
eight  years,  and  discharged  its  duties  with  fidelity  and  pop- 
ularity.   "During  this  period,"  he  says,  "I  paid  more 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  287 

attention  to  the  law  than  the  gospel."  In  truth,  he  was 
rising  into  acquaintance  and  esteem  with  the  business  men 
and  leading  citizens  of  the  county.  The  difficult  and  try- 
ing duties  of  his  office  he  managed  with  skill  in  some  im- 
portant legal  cases  which  came  before  him ;  and,  young 
as  he  was,  he  manifested  no  ordinary  talent  in  that  posi- 
tion. He  won  the  confidence  of  the  members  of  the  legal 
profession,  and  he  began  to  be  talked  of  as  a  candidate  for 
the  legislature. 

But  other  honors  awaited  him,  and  another  destiny  was 
before  him.  "  Before  honor  goes  humility."  The  ap- 
plause of  the  world  is  not  the  praise  of  God.  In  the 
midst  of  all  his  duties  now  rapidly  accumulating,  he  never 
wavered  in  his  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  nor  in  his  walk 
with  the  church.  The  church  was  much  enlivened  and 
edified  by  his  zeal.  He  preached  occasionally  for  them 
till,  December  19,  1844,  the  church  gave  him  letters  as  an 
evangelist.  This  widened  his  sphere  of  usefulness.  He 
visited  other  churches,  preaching  on  the  Lord's  day,  and 
contributed  very  much  to  their  growth  in  grace  and  knowl- 
edge. About  four  years  he  spent  in  this  manner,  dividing 
his  time  between  preaching  and  the  labors  of  his  farm. 
At  length  the  time  came  for  him  to  cut  the  cable  and 
launch  upon  the  sea. 

November  30,  1848,  commenced  his  first  protracted 
meeting.  He  was  now  thirty-five  years  old.  It  was  not 
far  from  his  own  home,  a  place  on  the  line  between  the 
townships  of  Champion  and  Bazetta.  No  church  was 
there,  and  every  thing  seemed  discouraging.  Storms  swept 
along  the  sky  and  over  the  earth,  so  that  the  meeting, 
which  was  opened  with  a  fair  attendance,  dwindled  down 
to  eight  persons.  A  noble  opportunity  to  prove  the  ster- 
ling qualities  of  character,  which  won  the  victory  for  him 
on  many  a  hard  contested  field !  On  the  sixth  night,  only 
eighteen  auditors,  and  four  of  them  yielded  to  the  gospel 
appeal  and  confessed  the  Lord.    This  meeting  resulted  in 


288  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


twenty-seven  conversions,  and  the  establishment  of  a  new 
church  of  thirty-five  members,  which  has  continued  in 
existence  ever  since.  Before  this  time,  however,  he  had 
seen  souls  awakened  and  converted  through  his  ministry. 
In  the  summer  of  1848,  in  company  with  Bro.  James  Had- 
sell,  he  held  a  meeting  in  Johnson,  in  his  own  township, 
with  sixteen  conversions. 

From  this  time  may  be  dated  the  commencement  of  that 
brilliant  career  in  the  gospel  which  has  made  the  name  of 
Calvin  Smith  so  widely  known,  and  so  dear  to  thousands. 
His  active  and  energetic  labors  spread  over  a  period  of 
about  ten  years;  but  as  his  health  was  very  poor  during 
the  last  two  years,  only  about  eight  years  can  be  assigned 
for  the  achievements  of  Herculean  labors  which  are  a  source 
of  amazement.  Wherever  he  went  crowds  gathered,  and 
seldom  did  he  quit  the  field  without  many  captives  for 
Christ.  Often  a  single  discourse  in  a  place  would  bring 
several  souls  to  repentance.  His  travels  included  most  of 
the  counties  in  North-eastern  Ohio,  and  extended  to  the 
mountains  in  Pennsylvania,  to  New  England,  New  York, 
and  beyond  the  Mississippi  in  the  West.  The  labors  of 
a  long  life  were  condensed  into  these  eight  or  nine  years. 

In  his  trip  to  New  England  he  was  accompanied  by  Bro. 
J.  T.  Phillips,  of  New  Castle,  Pa.  They  started  in  No- 
vember, 1853,  and  spent  about  two  months.  The  chief 
object  of  this  visit  was  not  so  much  immediate  conversions, 
as  the  sowing  of  seed  to  ripen  into  a  harvest  for  others  to 
reap ;  still  there  were  a  number  brought  to  Christ  during 
the  trip.  He  made  a  trip  to  Eastern  New  York,  and  con- 
ducted a  meeting  in  Poestenkill,  December,  1855. 

His  longest  trip  abroad  was  one  of  five  months,  the  ut- 
most terminus  of  which  was  Dubuque,  Iowa.  He  started 
on  this  tour  August  14,  1855,  and  arrived  at  home  Janu- 
ary 30,  1856.  He  intended  to  visit  his  particular  friends, 
the  Soules,  and  the  Robinsons,  late  of  Russell,  Ohio,  and 
hold  a  meeting  at  their  present  residence  in  Iona  County, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  289 

Michigan;  but  finding  sickness  among  them,  he  tarried 
a  few  days,  and  proceeded  westward  to  Wisconsin,  and 
made  a  stand  at  Hazle  Green.  Here  he  preached  twelve 
days  and  visited  fifty-three  families  to  converse  with  them 
on  the  gospel. 

He  went  to  Lancaster  and  to  Platteville.  At  the  latter 
place,  sect  prejudice  raged  so  violently  that  the  Methodist 
and  Presbyterian  meeting-houses  were  both  shut  against 
him.  He  began  in  a  school-house,  but  after  a  few  days 
this  also  was  closed.  The  citizens  then  rallied,  obtained 
a  hall,  fitted  it  up  commodiously,  and  the  meeting  went 
on  without  the  interruption  of  a  day.  The  meeting  was  a 
great  success  in  teaching  the  people  and  in  gathering  souls 
into  the  kingdom.  January  4th,  1856,  he  commenced  a 
meeting  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  continued  it  twenty-three 
days,  closing  on  the  27th  of  the  month.  The  interest  arose 
to  a  great  height.  There  were  seventeen  additions.  The 
cold  was  intense,  the  thermometer  some  days  30  below 
zero. 

This  was  his  last  meeting  for  a  year ;  and,  indeed  he 
never  recuperated  from  the  overpowering  drafts  on  his 
physical  energies.  He  preached  during  that  meeting  every 
day — yet  he  spit  blood  daily,  and  was  constantly  taking 
medicine.  From  this  time  to  the  close  of  his  life  he  was 
able  to  preach  but  little.  The  last  of  his  preaching  was 
in  his  own  church  in  Bazetta,  February,  1867,  of  one  week 
preparatory  to  a  meeting  held  there  by  the  writer  of  these 
sketches;  and  one  in  Lordstown  of  a  few  days,  to  which 
he  went  while  I  was  yet  in  Bazetta.  I  well  remember  him 
as  he  was  then,  emaciate  and  frail,  but  abiding  in  faith,  and 
abounding  in  zeal,  as  when  health  was  his  in  fullest  meas- 
ure. It  is  a  touching  remembrance  to  call  to  mind  how 
we  endeavored  to  dissuade  him  from  going  to  Lordstown, 
and  his  replies  from  a  voice  once  so  ringing  and  clear,  now 
so  consumptive  and  plaintive  :  "  I  shall  live  only  a  little 
time,"  he  said,  "and  I  may  do  some  good  by  going." 


29O  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


He  went.  Let  his  own  hand  tell  the  rest,  in  a  note  writ- 
ten by  him  two  months  afterward  : 

"  Came  home,  had  an  attack  of  lung  fever;  sick  a  long 
time,  and  from  this  sickness  I  shall  never  recover.  It  is 
now  December  15,  1858,  and  I  have  not  been  able  to 
speak  a  discourse  or  do  any  labor;  and  now  I  am  con- 
fined to  the  house,  and  will  ere  long  die  with  consumption. 
When  I  die,  I  hope  some  one  will  record  my  death,  and  I 
will  leave  the  record  for  those  interested  in  it." 

This  is  his  last  written  note  of  his  life.  The  next  lines 
are  by  another  hand  : 

'•'Died  on  the  13th  of  January,  1859,  Calvin  Smith, 
in  the  45th  year  of  his  age,  of  consumption.  His  work 
is  done,  and  he  is  entered  into  rest.  He  lived  and  died 
a  Christian — labored  for  the  good  of  man — stood  up  for 
Jesus,  and  went  home  to  heaven. 

"  Keep  us,  O  Lord,  that  we  may  meet  him  at  thy  right 
hand." 

A  few  weeks  before  his  death  he  gave  his  Bible  to  Bro. 
Edwin  Wakefield,  with  a  request  that  he  preach  his  funeral 
from  the  following  words:  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth  ;  yea,  saith  the  Spirit, 
that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors  and  their  works  do 
follow  them."  Rev.  xiv:  13.  This  solemn  duty  was 
ably  performed  in  the  presence  of  a  large  and  weeping 
assembly.  His  widowed  companion,  six  daughters  and 
an  only  living  son,  followed  him,  and  "  beheld  where 
they  laid  him." 

' * Alas!  alas!  my  brother,"  wrote  Bro.  William  Hay- 
den,  who  visited  him  a  short  time  before  his  death,  "how 
was  my  spirit  crushed  in  parting  with  thee !  How  sweet 
was  thy  spirit  !  How  true  was  thy  devotion  to  that  gos- 
pel which  pours  floods  of  light  and  immortality  on  death's 
dark  hour  !  Thou  hast  obtained  the  true  ambition.  On 
thy  tombstone  it  should  be  written :  *  He  died  at  his  post ; ' 
and  in  heaven  it  will  be  said,  '  He  turned  many  to  right- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


29I 


eousness.'  How  blest  the  righteous  when  he  dies!  How 
good  to  be  embalmed  in  the  affections  of  the  pure  in  heart ! 
May  my  memory  be  blest  as  thine,  and  my  last  hours  be 
like  thine,  my  brother." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  convey  in  words  an  adequate 
conception  of  his  state  of  mind  at  departing.  So  calm, 
so  serene,  so  strong  in  faith,  so  cheerful  in  hope !  Most 
tenderly  devoted  to  his  family,  he  heard  no  murmur  or 
sigh.  His  religion  was  not  a  mere  sentiment  nor  a  pas- 
sion. If  was  a  faith  which  actualizes  the  4 'things  hoped 
for" — a  faith  which  saw  the  things  invisible.  What  a 
heaven  was  that  home  for  weeks  before  his  departure  ! 
Few  visitors  could  be  admitted,  but  it  was  all  the  better ; 
he  was  all  the  more  sacred  to  his  dear  companion,  who 
would  have  died  with  him,  and  to  his  children,  to  whom, 
in  the  serene  blessedness  of  these  most  hallowed  scenes, 
he  was  illustrating  the  faith  in  Jesus  which  he  had  so  ex- 
tensively preached  to  the  world. 

The  hour  came,  and  he  slept;  slept  sweetly  and  in 
peace.    Aged  45  years,  2  months,  14  days. 

Though  short  the  time  of  his  ministry,  fifteen  hundred 
and  thirty-six  souls  were  by  him  turned  to  God,  and  bap- 
tized into  the  Lord  Jesus,  besides  over  three  hundred  who 
united  with  the  churches  during  and  under  his  labors.  He 
was  an  early  and  decided  friend  of  the  Missionary  cause. 
He  saw  in  this  effort  to  associate  the  brethren  in  a  great 
evangelical  enterprise,  a  coming  hope  for  the  churches,  to 
lead  them  into  a  closer  unity  and  a  better  order.  A  large 
proportion  of  his  great  and  successful  labors  was  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Missionary  Society. 

Bro.  Smith  was,  in  person,  of  full  medium  height,  in 
weight  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  His  eye  was  the  pic- 
ture of  quickness  and  ready  discernment ;  his  countenance 
was  highly  engaging  and  agreeable.  He  was  a  ready  talker, 
blunt  and  rapid  in  speech,  exhaustless  in  illustration  and 
anecdote.    There  was  a  fine  flowing  vein  of  humor  in  his 


292  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

heart,  which,  with  his  hopeful  and  cheerful  temperament, 
made  him  a  most  animated,  social,  and  instructive  com- 
panion. His  intuitive  perception  of  character  was  a 
marked  trait  of  his  mental  capacities.  He  was  seldom 
mistaken  in  his  man. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  a  nature  so  decided  and  marked 
in  peculiar  features,  carried  itself  into  his  audiences,  and 
under  the  animation  of  the  force  and  enthusiasm  with 
which  he  commonly  moved  on  in  his  sermons,  he  bore 
the  delighted  hearers  along  with  him  to  the  conclusions 
which  he  sought  to  impress. 

In  this  place  it  would  be  wrong  to  omit  mention  of 
some  of  the  causes  of  his  marvelous  effectiveness  in  his 
work.  Among  these,  his  habit  of  visiting  the  people 
wherever  he  went,  should  be  prominently  mentioned.  He 
was  an  untiring  and  most  industrious  visitor.  He  always 
visited ;  went  every-where ;  made  religious  calls  among 
the  people,  in  their  houses,  at  their  workshops,  on  their 
farms.  Wherever  they  were,  he  found  them,  talked  with 
them,  and  often  prayed  where  prayers  were  never  before 
heard.  These  were  not  dull,  dry,  demure  visitations. 
He  was  a  man  of  the  people,  with  the  people.  They  saw 
this.  He  could  tell  them  about  common  things,  and 
showed  himself  a  man  with  them  in  the  experiences  and 
knowledges  of  common  life.  His  abounding  sympathies 
went  to  the  house  and  home  of  poverty,  and  cheered  into 
life  and  hope  hearts  that  never  felt  their  blessed  warmth 
before.  It  was  nothing  uncommon  for  him  to  visit  thirty, 
forty  and  sixty  and  seventy  families  during  a  single  meet- 
ing. The  highest  number  I  see  recorded  in  his  journal 
is  one  hundred  and  six  during  a  single  meeting.  In  these 
labors  from  house  to  house  he  omitted  none,  of  whatever 
rank,  or  condition,  or  creed.  He  broke  through  all  bar- 
riers, nor  allowed  either  prejudice  or  religious  belief  tc 
prevent  his  getting  to  the  people.    Christ  died  for  them, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


293 


and  his  it  was  to  reach  all,  teach  all,  convert  all  it  was 
possible  to  gain. 

Be  sure — ye  indolent,  ease-loving  sermon  makers,  that 
the  people  are  God's  great  militia ;  they  are  his  army. 
And  the  man  who  interests  himself  in  the  people,  will, 
find  the  people  interested  in  him  and  his  message  to  them. 

His  style  of  speech  was  plain,  clear,  pointed  and  forci- 
ble. Though  rapid  in  utterance,  his  enunciation  was  per- 
fectly intelligible.  The  words  came  full  and  rounded  from 
his  tongue.  He  had  no  pedantry  nor  artistic  airs.  His 
illustrations,  always  pertinent  and  pointed,  were  from  com- 
mon things.  They  were  so  clear  and  appropriate,  the 
people  felt  in  them  the  force  of  demonstration. 

He  believed  what  he  preached.  The  intense  earnestness 
of  his  faith  carried  its  convictions  to  every  mind.  None 
doubted  his  sincerity.  All  saw  his  earnestness.  The  sub- 
ordinate arts  of  embellishment  were  nothing  to  him.  "I 
believed,  therefore  have  I  spoken."  The  word  of  God 
was  true ;  he  knew,  he  felt  it  true,  and  he  made  the  people 
feel  it  too.  The  grand  realities  of  heaven,  of  hell,  life, 
death,  eternity  and  a  judgment  to  come,  were  no  toys  in 
his  hand. 

"When  the  son  of  man  cometh,  shall  he  find  faith  in 
the  earth?"  Much  of  the  preaching  of  this  age  can 
scarcely  be  called  even  a  solemn  farce !  So  vapid  and 
volatile,  trope,  phrase,  and  dignity  in  relief;  Christ,  sin 
and  salvation  shaded  in  the  background ! 

I  am  conscious  this  sketch  will,  by  some,  be  regarded 
as  long  drawn  out.  But  to  thousands,  it  will  be  felt  to  be 
far  too  meager,  while  to  one  precious  circle,  where  he  was 
vastly  more  than  king,  it  will  seem  all  imperfection.  I 
dare  not  say  how  much  I  loved  him.  Let  this  and  a  thou- 
sand other  precious  memories  be  as  seed  sown,  to  spring 
up  into  a  full  harvest  of  joy  and  holy  fellowships  when  the 
saints  arise  in  the  likeness  of  Jesus,  who  is  our  life  and 
our  everlasting  hope. 


294  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHURCHES  FOUNDED  BY  HIM. 

1.  Between  Champion  and  Bazetta,  35  members,  De- 
cember, 1848. 

2.  Fowler,  33  members,  March,  1851. 

3.  Mecca,  23  members,  March,  1851. 

4.  Auburn,  De  Kalb  County,  Iowa,  June,  1852. 

5.  Jackson,  50  members,  September,  1852. 

6.  Russell,  23  members,  October,  1852. 

7.  Elmore,  March,  1853. 

8.  Bristol,  32  members,  May,  1853. 

9.  LaGrange,  September,  1853. 

10.  Chester,  October,  1852. 

11.  West  Arlington,  Vt.,  January,  1854. 

12.  Kenton,  Hardin  County,  26  members,  Feb.,  1854. 

13.  Hartsgrove,  33  members,  November,  1854. 

14.  Rome,  60  members,  February,  1855. 

15.  New  Lyme,  18  members,  March,  1855. 

16.  Jefferson,  28  members,  August,  1855. 

"Gone  to  thy  heavenly  rest! 

The  flowers  of  Eden  round  thee  blooming, 
And  on  thine  ear  the  murmurs  blest 

Of  Siloa's  waters  softly  flowing 
Beneath  the  tree  of  life,  which  gives 
To  all  the  earth  its  healing  leaves, 
In  the  white  robe  of  angels  clad 

And  wandering  by  that  sacred  river 
Whose  streams  of  holiness  make  glad 

The  city  of  our  God  forever ! 

"  Oh!  for  the  death  the  righteous  die! 

An  end,  like  autumn's  day  declining, 
On  human  hearts,  as  on  the  sky, 

With  holier,  tenderer  beauty  shining; 
As  to  the  parting  soul  were  given 
The  radiance  of  an  opening  heaven ! 
As  if  that  pure  and  blessed  light 

From  off  the  eternal  altar  flowing, 
Were  bathing,  in  its  upward  flight, 

The  spirit  to  its  worship  going." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


295 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Great  Meeting  in  Austintown,  1830 — Dissolution  of  the  Associa- 
tion— Defeat  of  Rigdon's  Community  Scheme — The  Church  in 
North  Bloomfield — Benjamin  Alton — The  Cause  in  Farming- 
ton — Harvey  Brockett — The  Church  in  Green — W.  Bartlett — 
E.  Wakefield. 


OR  numbers,  ardor  of  enthusiasm,  and  impor- 


tant  results,  no  meeting  on  the  Reserve  sur- 
passed the  great  assembly  in  Austintown,  in  1830. 
It  was  still  called  the  association.  The  church  at 
that  place  had  built  a  meeting-house,  the  first  one 
erected  by  the  Disciples  on  the  Western  Reserve. 
It  was  completely  filled  Friday  afternoon.  Not  fewer 
than  twenty  preachers  attended  it,  and  crowds  of 
people  from  long  distances.  Yet  the  hospitality  of 
the  people  provided  for  all.  Father  Hayden  fur- 
nished provisions  for  uncounted  numbers,  and  lodged 
a  hundred  and  fifty  ;  bringing  into  requisition  for  that 
purpose  not  only  every  floor  and  room  in  his  house ; 
but  the  barn  also — empty,  swept,  and  furnished. .  All 
vied  with  each  other  in  the  profuse  generosity  which 
bid  all  a  hearty  welcome. 

The  meeting  opened  with  salutations,  songs,  exhor- 
tations, and  reports.  The  next  day  Henry  stepped 
up  quickly  into  the  pulpit  where  were  sitting  the 
older  preachers,  and  said  in  a  low  but  energetic  tone, 
"  I  charge  you  to  look  out  what  you  are  about  to  do 
here  ;  we  want  nothing  here  which  the  word  of  the 
Lord  will  not  sanction."    They  smiled  at  his  bold 


296  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

independence  as  he  returned  to  his  seat.  His  mean- 
ing was  apparent  when  he  arose,  soon  after,  and 
moved  that  the  association,  as  an  advisory  council, 
be  now  dissolved.  The  resolution  was  offered,  put 
and  passed  so  quickly,  that  few  paused  to  consider 
the  propriety  or  effect  of  it.  The  most  seemed 
pleased  ;  but  not  all.  The  more  thoughtful  regretted 
it  as  a  hasty  proceeding.  Mr.  Campbell  arose  and 
said :  "  Brethren,  what  now  are  you  going  to  do  ?  are 
you  never  going  to  meet  again  ? "  This  fell  upon  us 
like  a  clap  of  thunder,  and  caused  a  speedy  change 
of  feelings.  Many  had  come  forty  or  fifty  miles,  in 
big  wagons  even,  so  eager  to  enjoy  this  feast  of  love. 
Never  meet  again  !  For  a  little  time  joy  gave  place 
to  gloom.  Campbell  saw  there  was  no  use  in  stem- 
ming the  tide  and  pleading  for  the  continuance  of  the 
association,  even  in  a  modified  form.  The  voice  of 
the  reformation,  at  this  juncture,  was  for  demolition, 
and  Scott  was  thought  to  favor  the  motion.  Mr. 
Campbell  then  proposed  that  the  brethren  meet  an- 
nually hereafter  for  preaching  the  gospel,  for  mutual 
edification,  and  for  hearing  reports  of  the  progress 
of  the  cause  of  Christ.  This  was  unanimously  ap- 
proved. Thus  ended  the  association,  and  this  was 
the  origin  of  the  yearly-meeting  system  among  us. 

As  this  action  and  this  occasion  became  a  turning 
point  in  our  history,  a  few  remarks  upon  it  are  de- 
manded : 

1.  For  three  years  of  unparalleled  success  we  had 
organic  unity  of  the  churches,  and  harmony  of  action 
among  the  preachers.  At  New  Lisbon  one  evangel- 
ist was  sent  out ;  at  Warren,  two  ;  at  Sharon,  four : 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  297 

the  association  in  this  acting  as  a  delegate  body- 
only  for  evangelical  purposes. 

2.  At  the  dissolution  of  the  association  the  sys- 
tem of  evangelization  under  the  auspices  and  direc- 
tion of  the  brotherhood  ceased  and  perished.  No 
one  was  sent  out  by  that  body,  as  it  ceased  to  be  ; 
nor  by  the  yearly  meeting,  for  no  such  power  was 
then  assumed  by  the  "  yearly  meeting,"  nor  has  been 
since. 

3.  Then  perished  the  principle  of  concert  of  ac- 
tion among  us  for  evangelical  purposes ;  and  it  lay 
dormant  for  years. 

4.  Therefore  we  have  been,  in  this  respect,  in  a 
state  of  apostasy  from  our  first  principles. 

5.  Due  discrimination  was  not  made  between  the 
evangelical,  which  was  right,  useful,  and  not  liable  to 
dangerous  results ;  and  the  ecclesiastical,  against 
which  the  opposition  was  directed;  and  that  in  the 
overturn  of  the  one,  which  was,  perhaps,  liable  to 
objections,  the  other  was  destroyed,  which  was  the 
true  principle,  and  ought  to  have  been  carefully  pre- 
served, guarded,  and,  perhaps,  improved. 

6.  Efforts,  unavailing,  were  often  made  in  our 
yearly  meetings  afterwards,  to  revive  the  evangelic 
feature  of  the  lost  association;  pleaded  for  by  our 
own  example  and  history,  and  by  the  increasing  tes- 
timony of  our  experience. 

7.  Wise  men  saw  the  evil,  and  deplored  the  result 
at  the  time  and  afterwards  ;  as  Benajah  Austin, 
William  Hayden,  whose  persistent  appeals  for  its  re- 
suscitation provoked  many,  and  by  Mr.  Campbell,  who 
writes  thus  in  the  Millennial  Harbinger  for  1849, 
p.  272  : 


298  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

"I  have  before  intimated  my  approval  of  the  Baptist 
associational  formulas,  pruned  of  certain  redundencies  and 
encroachments  upon  faith,  piety,  and  humanity.  I  was 
present  on  the  occasion  of  the  dissolution  of  the  'Ma- 
honing Baptist  Association'  in  1828,*  on  the  Western 
Reserve,  State  of  Ohio.  With  the  exception  of  one  ob- 
solete preacher,  the  whole  association,  preachers  and  peo- 
ple, embraced  the  current  reformation.  I  confess  I  was 
alarmed  at  the  hasty  and  impassioned  manner  in  which 
the  association  was,  in  a  few  minutes,  dissolved.  I  then, 
and  since,  contemplated  that  scene  as  a  striking  proof  of 
the  power  of  enthusiasm  and  of  excitement,  and  as  dan- 
gerous, too,  even  in  ecclesiastical  as  well  as  in  political 
affairs.  Counsel  and  caution,  argument  and  remonstrance, 
were  wholly  in  vain  in  such  a  crisis  of  affairs.  It  would 
have  been  an  imprudent  sacrifice  of  influence  to  have  done 
more  than  make  a  single  remonstrance.  But  that  remon- 
strance was  quashed  by  the  previous  question,  and  the 
regular  Baptist  Mahoning  Association  died  of  a  moral 
apoplexy  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

' *  Reformation  and  annihilation  are  not  with  me  now, 
as  formerly,  convertible  or  identical  terms.  We  want  oc- 
casional, if  not  stated,  deliberative  meetings  on  questions 
of  expediency  in  adaptation  to  the  ever-changing  fortune 
and  character  of  society." 

There  occurred  at  this  meeting  a  passage  at  arms 
between  Mr.  Campbell  and  Mr.  Rigdon.  It  was  only 
about  two  months  previous  to  the  fall  of  that  star 
from  heaven.  On  Saturday,  Rigdon  introduced  an 
argument  to  show  that  our  pretension  to  follow  the 
apostles  in  all  their  New  Testament  teachings,  re- 

*  As  it  relates  to  forms  and  reports  of  its  doings,  it  ceased  at 
Warren,  1828.  But  the  resolution  for  its  dissolution  was  passed  at 
Austintown,  1830.    Bro.  Campbell  was  present  on  both  occasions 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  299 

quired  a  community  of  goods  ;  that  as  they  estab- 
lished this  order  in  the  model  church  at  Jerusalem, 
we  were  bound  to  imitate  their  example.  The  saga- 
cious mind  of  Mr.  Campbell  saw  at  once  the  confu- 
sion and  ruin  that  would  result  from  such  doctrines 
plausibly  presented  before  a  large,  eager  multitude, 
many  of  whom  were  new  converts.  He  arose  and 
offered  a  correction  of  the  mistake.  This  did  not 
satisfy  the  zealous  Rigdon.  He  rejoined.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell felt  the  necessity  of  settling  the  matter,  and  in 
a  half  hour's  speech  he  set  forth  the  following 
points : 

1.  The  "community  system,"  in  the  second  of 
Acts,  was  formed  not  to  make  property,  but  to  con- 
sume it,  under  the  special  circumstances  attending 
that  case. 

2.  The  matter  about  Ananias  and  Sapphira  put  an 
end  to  it. 

3.  Sundry  passages  in  Corinthians  and  elsewhere, 
calling  for  contributions  for  benevolent  objects,  show 
that  no  such  system  prevailed  in  the  primitive 
churches. 

This  put  an  end  to  it.  Rigdon  finding  himself 
foiled  in  his  cherished  purpose  of  ingrafting  on  the 
reformation  his  new  community  scheme,  went  away 
from  the  meeting  at  its  close,  chafed  and  chagrined, 
and  never  met  with  the  Disciples  in  a  general  meet- 
ing afterward.  On  his  way  he  stopped  at  Bro.  Aus- 
tin's, in  Warren,  to  whom  he  vented  his  spleen, 
saying;  "I  have  done  as  much  in  this  reformation 
as  Campbell  or  Scott,  and  yet  they  get  all  the  honor 
of  it!" 

On  Lord's  day,  from  a  stage  prepared  in  a  grove, 


300  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

the  addresses  were  delivered  to  an  immense  con- 
course. Mr.  Campbell's  discourse  was  based  on  the 
language,  14  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of 
all  acceptation,  that  Christ  jfesus  came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners."  I  Tim.  i:  15.  Two  propositions, 
he  affirmed,  are  in  the  passage  :  1.  That  the  gospel  is 
true ;  2.  That  it  is  good.  Taking  the  first  proposi- 
tion, he  delivered  a  sermon  of  great  power  on  the 
evidences  of  Christianity. 

About  a  thousand  conversions  in  the  previous  year 
were  reported  ;  over  forty  united  on  that  occasion. 
For  many  years  this  meeting  was  referred  to  as  con- 
spicuous among  the  joyous  religious  festivities  so 
numerous  on  the  Western  Reserve. 

North  Bloomfield. 

Benjamin  Alton  was  born  February  22,  1799.  His 
early  life  was  spent  in  Genesee  County,  New  York.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen,  he  was  a  zealous  exhorter  among  the 
Methodists.  Falling  in  with  Elder  Wm.  True,  of  the 
fi  Christian  Connection,"  he  was  baptized  by  him,  and 
continued  to  preach  the  gospel  as  he  understood  it. 

About  the  year  1S27,  he  moved  to  North  Bloomfield, 
Trumbull  County.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  abilities, 
full  size,  finely  formed,  and  possessed  most  winning  man- 
ner and  tender  speech.  He  had  been  very  successful  as 
a  revivalist  among  the  "New  Lights"  or  "Christians." 
In  the  process  of  his  ministry  he  became  convinced  that 
something  was  radically  wrong  in  the  exhibition  of  the 
gospel  in  these  times,  as  no  case  is  to  be  found  in  all  the 
history  of  the  apostles'  preaching  of  penitent  sinners 
mourning  for  days  and  nights,  and  sighing  for  undis- 
covered pardon.  The  sensitive  heart  of  the  sympathetic 
Alton  was  overwhelmed,  as  he  saw  many  souls  weeping 
under  conviction  for  sin,  crying  out  to  know  what  they 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE  3OI 

should  do,  while  the  only  answer  ever  given  was  to  con- 
tinue in  that  very  condition  of  agony,  and  that  relief  some 
time  and  in  some  way  might  be  expected.  Disgusted  and 
discouraged,  he  resolved  to  hide  himself  away  in  a 
"lodge"  in  the  wilderness,  and  there  in  quietness  and 
seclusion,  to  live  for  his  family  and  heaven.  He  settled 
on  lands  in  the  dense  forests  of  Bloomfield.  He  had 
traveled  much,  and  witnessed  with  grief  and  shame  the 
sectarianisms  of  the  day ;  and,  moreover,  he  thought  it  a 
great  mistake  that  the  gospel  contained  no  express  pro- 
vision by  which  a  repenting  sinner  might  be  assured  at 
once  of  the  forgiveness  of  his  sins.  He  was  fast  tending 
to  skepticism,  and  might  have  been  swept  into  the  vortex 
of  infidelity,  but  for  an  incident  which  called  him  forth  to 
the  light  and  to  great  usefulness. 

About  the  year  1829,  the  good  people  of  Bloomfield 
called  a  public  meeting,  and  resolved  to -unite  in  raising 
a  fund  to  support  preaching,  and  all  go  to  meeting  to- 
gether. It  was  an  effort,  after  its  kind,  to  form  a  union 
for  religious  purposes ;  a  union  out  of  diversity.  But  the 
union  not  arising  out  of  previously  existing  unity — the  only 
condition  of  a  permanent  union — it  proved  of  short  du- 
ration. Yet  they  entered  into  the  enterprise  in  good 
heart,  with  good  intentions,  and  good  omens.  As  the 
Presbyterians  were  the  most  numerous,  they  were  to  have 
the  house  half  the  time ;  the  Baptists  and  the  Methodists 
one  quarter,  and  the  Unitarians  the  other  quarter.  Squire 
Brown,  a  prominent  citizen,  was  to  secure  the  Unitarian 
minister.  By  some  of  the  more  rigid  in  sentiment  he 
was  thought  to  be  skeptical ;  but  he  entered  heartily  into 
the  arrangement  as  a  means  of  the  moral  improvement  of 
the  town.  By  him  Benjamin  Alton  was  engaged.  Alton, 
thus  called  from  his  coveted  retreat,  consented  to  gird 
himself  again  in  the  panoply  of  the  gospel.  He  came 
regularly  to  his  appointments.  He  would  sit  quite  a 
while  in  the  pulpit,  and  then,  rising,  proceed  to  preach 


302  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


without  singing  or  prayer.  He  usually  preached  on  the 
prophecies,  and  many  became  interested  in  his  sermons. 

About  this  time  William  Hayden  preached  at  the  center 
of  Blbomfield,  and  staying  over  night  with  Alton,  these 
two  Bible  men  spent  much  of  the  night  searching  the 
Scriptures  in  relation  to  the  ancient  gospel,  particularly  as 
it  relates  to  the  manner  in  which  the  apostles  preached  it, 
and  brought  convicted  sinners  into  the  light  and  peace  of 
pardon.  In  the  course  of  the  same  year,  Alton  heard 
Thomas  Campbell.  In  that  discourse  he  saw  the  scrip- 
tural plan  of  salvation.  The  darkness,  which  like  a  cloud 
had  rested  on  the  Bible,  cleared  away,  and  he  discovered, 
to  his  great  joy,  that  God  had  not  left  us  ignorant  of  what 
to  do  to  be  saved.  Like  Saul,  when  the  scales  fell  from 
his  eyes,  he  forthwith  preached  the  gospel  after  the  mod- 
els found  in  the  sermons  of  the  apostles. 

The  alarm  was  sounded  at  once.  The  people  had 
never  agreed  to  hear  a  "  Campbellite."  The  union  ex- 
ploded and  went  to  the  four  winds.  The  people  called 
another  meeting,  dissolved  the  covenant,  and  each  party 
agreed  to  support  its  own  meeting. 

Alton  kept  up  his  appointments.  Four  or  five  were 
baptized  this  season.  In  1 830-1,  some  others  were  con- 
verted. In  1832,  Bro.  Alton  preached  half  the  time,  and 
began  to  attend  regularly  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  They 
were  now  meeting  in  a  school-house,  where  they  continued 
several  years,  during  which  time  they  were  growing 
strong  and  more  numerous,  under  the  visits  of  Hayden, 
Henry,  the  Bosworths,  Applegate,  and  others. 

In  1836,  Bro.  Alton  moved  to  De  Kalb  County,  Indi- 
ana. There  he  displayed  the  same  zeal  which  had  always 
warmed  his  own  heart,  and  melted  the  hearts  of  hundreds. 
Suffering  all  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life  in  a  densely 
wooded  country,  contending  with  marsh  and  miasm,  he 
still  found  time  to  preach  the  gospel  and  plant  churches. 
With  a  numerous  family,  little  money  in  the  country,  and 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  303 

nothing  to  sell  to  procure  any,  his  fare  was  the  plainest, 
and  his  costume  any  thing  but  clerical.  Sometimes  with- 
out a  coat — but  a  wrapper  instead — a  shoe  on  one  foot,  the 
other  honored  with  a  boot,  he  traveled  afoot  to  his  ap- 
pointments. His  genial  disposition,  manly  form,  sweet- 
ness of  countenance,  and  earnest,  convincing  pathos,  full 
of  Scripture  withal,  brought  many  from  far  to  hear  his 
sermons,  and  many  turned  to  righteousness.  Some  of  the 
churches  planted  by  him  in  that  wilderness,  are  yet  stand- 
ing and  flourishing. 

As  illustrative  of  the  straightened  condition  of  those 
days,  a  young  man  wished  Elder  Alton  to  perform  for  him 
the  marriage  ceremony.  Unable  to  pay  money  for  the 
service,  he  stipulated  to  compensate  him  with  pumpkins  ! 
The  service  was  rendered  cheerfully,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  happy  bridegroom,  and  the  next  day  he  brought  a 
large  load  of  selected  "  fruit  of  vine,"  and  delivered  them 
to  the  very  needy  and  equally  gratified  parson. 

Exhaustive  toil,  and  the  malaria  of  the  rich  opening 
soil,  undermined  his  naturally  hardy  constitution.  He  sank 
gradually  to  a  feeble  state  from  which  he  could  not  rally. 
His  wife,  the  faithful  sharer  of  his  life  and  fortunes,  sank 
with  him  and  before  him.  She  died  March  24,  1847.  He 
survived  thirteen  days  longer,  and  fell  asleep,  April  7th, 
aged  only  a  little  over  forty-eight  years.  He  was  univer- 
sally lamented.  His  talents  commanded  the  respect  of 
the  people,  who  sought  to  put  him  on  the  ticket  for  politi- 
cal fame.  But  he  chose  to  suffer  reproach  with  the  people 
of  God.  Like  all  men  who  move  men  for  God,  he  was  a 
most  devoted  Bible  student.  It  is  said  he  had  the  whole 
New  Testament  by  heart.  His  family  are  religions,  and 
his  youngest  son,  Cyrus  Alton,  is  devotedly  engaged  in 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 

The  little  band  in  Bloomfield  had  organized  as  a 
worshiping  assembly  with  eleven  members.  Among 


304  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

them  were  Nelson  Works,  Bro.  Netterfield  and  his 
wife,  Mary  Sager,  Polly  Green,  and  Mehitabel  Thayer, 
Bro.  Works  was  appointed  to  take  the  lead  of  the 
meetings.  Bro.  Alton's  removal  left  them  much  dis- 
couraged ;  but  they  were  not  cast  down  nor  forsaken. 
In  October,  1836,  Marcus  Bosworth  visited  them,  and 
learning  the  condition  of  the  church,  thought  it  nec- 
essary to  take  steps  to  complete  their  organization, 
their  number  being  now  considerably  increased. 
This  was  done  the  nineteenth  of  that  month.  The 
following  new  names  were  taken  at  this  time,  viz. : 
Zephaniah  Luse,  Ruhama  Luse,  Wm.  M.  Bellows, 
Benjamin  Bellows,  Josiah  Bellows,  Rachel  Bellows, 
Mary  Ann  Bellows,  Henry  G.  Neal,  Clarissa  Neal, 
Wm.  Parker,  Charles  Thayer,  Clarissa  Wilder,  Can- 
dace  Green,  Nancy  Green,  Anna  Sager,  Rebecca 
Sager,  Miriam  Smith. 

The  church  has  never  lost  its  identity.  It  was  as- 
sisted by  the  preaching  brethren  of  the  time  ;  the 
brethren  Hayden,  Henry,  Hartzel,  Applegate,  Cyrus 
and  Marcus  Bosworth,  Clapp,  Collins  ;  and  a  little 
later  by  Lucy,  Brockett,  Perky,  Calvin  Smith  ;  and 
later  still  by  Edwin  Wakefield,  W.  A.  Belding,  C.  C. 
Foote,  and  H.  Reeves. 

In  the  winter  of  1848,  Bro.  Isaac  Errett  held  a 
meeting  in  the  Congregational  church  at  the  center 
of  the  town.  Bro.  Charles  Brown  made  every  ar- 
rangement to  secure  for  him  a  favorable  hearing. 
The  church  was  doubled  in  numbers,  and  the  cause 
of  religious  reformation  lifted  up  to  the  notice  of  a 
large  number  of  the  people  in  the  township.  Their 
place  of  meeting  in  the  school-houses  was  too  small 
for  the  assemblies,  and  in  1849,  the  meeting-house 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  305 

at  the  center  was  built,  and  Bro.  Errett  moving  there 
in  October,  that  year,  he  became  the  first  pastor  of 
the  church.  He  remained  two  years,  adding  numbers 
and  strength  to  the  congregation,  preaching  also  in 
other  communities,  so  that  the  principles  of  this 
religious  reformation  were  established  in  various 
places.  The  church  in  Green  was  formed  chiefly 
under  his  ministry. 

April  19,  1840,  Nelson  Works  and  H.  G.  Neal 
were  appointed  Elders.  William  Parker  served  also 
awhile  in  that  capacity.  In  1842,  John  Sager  was 
elected  deacon.  These,  and  others  after  them,  per- 
formed the  duties  of  their  respective  offices  without 
ordination.  Some  new  officers  having  been  selected, 
the  church  set  apart  April  19,  1854,  for  the  purpose 
of  ordaining  them  after  the  scriptural  example.  On 
that  day  Bro.  Edwin  Wakefield  was,  by  imposition 
of  hands,  with  prayer  and  fasting,  set  apart  to  the 
"  work  of  an  evangelist ;  "  brethren  Nelson  Works 
and  Charles  Brown  were,  in  like  manner,  ordained 
as  elders ;  and  John  Sager,  David  Snyder,  Chester 
Howard,  and  N.  B.  Ferry  were  ordained  deacons. 
Brethren  Cyrus  Bosworth,  M.  S.  Clapp,  Isaac  Errett 
and  B.  F.  Perky  were  the  officiating  ministers. 

This  church  owes  much  to  the  unwavering  faith- 
fulness of  her  time-honored  elder,  Nelson  Works. 
Through  all  her  trials  he  has  held  firmly  the  stand- 
ard, its  honored  flag  unfurled  and  aloft.  Around  it, 
with  supporting  encouragement,  a  number  of  the  sis- 
ters, whose  names  are  in  the  book  of  life,  have  as 
faithfully  rallied,  displaying  a  zeal,  constancy,  and 
devotion  worthy  of  special  commendation.  In  this 
connection  also,  the  godly  zeal  and  cheering  voice  of 
26 


306  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Brockett  comes  to  remembrance.  In  the  darkest 
days  he  would  cheer  the  little  company  of  believers 
with  assurances  that  the  gospel  would  yet  triumph 
in  Bloomfield.  And  when  at  length  the  day  dawned, 
and  such  an  ingathering  attended  the  labors  of  Bro. 
Errett,  "  he  is  but  reaping/'  said  the  sincere  Brockett, 
M  the  fruits  of  the  sowing  of  others." 

The  Cause  in  Farmington. 

Like  most  of  the  churches  the  congregation  in 
Farmington  is  an  example  of  Christians  coming  to- 
gether in  gospel  order  from  different  "orders,", so 
called.  In  1818,  Abijah  Lee  came  into  that  town 
with  his  family.  He  was  a  Baptist.  His  son,  Isaac 
Lee,  who  had  embraced  religion  among  the  Metho- 
dists, went  after  a  few  years  to  Kirtland.  There  in 
the  great  reformatory  movement  under  Bentley  and 
Rigdon,  in  1828,  he  saw  the  great  difference  be- 
tween Christianity  as  a  unity,  as  contained  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  an  organized  "  branch  "  of  the 
church.  He  dropped  the  terms  and  title  of  schis 
matic  party,  and  stood  for  uniting  Christians  in 
Christ  Jesus.  He  returned  to  Farmington  in  the 
spring  of  1829,  and  found  a  young  man,  Harvey 
Brockett,  much  awakened  on  the  subject  of  religion. 
Lee  found  little  trouble  in  teaching  him  the  u  obe- 
dience of  faith  "  as  now  re-proclaimed  by  the  disci- 
ples. He  received  the  truth  "with  all  readiness  of 
mind"  and  was  baptized  by  his  friend  Isaac  Lee. 
Meantime  Father  Abijah  Lee,  his  family  and  others 
there,  were  reading  the  "  Christian  Baptist."  The 
powerful  stimulus  of  that  revolutionary  periodical 
awakened  inquiry  in  the  minds  of  many.    Soon  Ben- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  307 

jamin  Alton  was  on  the  ground,  and  to  full  houses 
announced  the  call  to  the  Bible — to  Pentecost — to 
Christ.  A  local  Methodist  preacher  confronted  him, 
but  God  in  his  truth  was  mightier  than  man  in  his 
ignorance  of  it ;  and  the  people  "  heard  him  gladly." 
In  1830,  a  church  was  formed,  with  Abijah  Lee  as 
leader,  which  met  every  Lord's  day  according  to  the 
commandment,  to  keep  the  ordinances  as  they  were 
delivered  to  the  church  by  the  apostles.  With  no 
chart  but  the  unerring  Word,  they  launched  on  the 
ocean  under  the  pilotage  of  the  Captain  of  salvation. 

They  numbered  at  the  beginning  about  twenty. 
The  Baptists  gave  them  Abijah  Lee  and  wife,  and 
Daniel  Davidson  and  his  wife.  Isaac  Lee,  for  a  little 
with  the  Methodists,  and  Harvey  Brockett  also  now 
rallied  with  them  and  the  new  converts  around  the 
"ensign"  lifted  up  for  all  nations  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost, A.  D.  33. 

Alton  did  not  forsake  them,  nor  were  they  wanting 
in  zeal  nor  gifts  among  themselves.  They  lost  no 
opportunity  to  teach  the  people  ;  and  they  were  con- 
stant in  mutual  edification.  The  sincere  Applegate, 
the  tender  Bosworth,  the  rapid  Henry,  and  the  ener- 
getic Hayden,  labored  among  them  early  and  with 
much  success  ;  as  did  also  Collins,  Clapp,  and  Hartzel. 

Sketch  of  Harvey  Brockett. 
All  honor  to  the  church  that  could  produce  a  Brockett ! 
He  was  a  man  of  attractions.  Few  men  in  so  short  a  ca- 
reer have  left  so  lasting  results  to  witness  for  their  devo- 
tion to  Christ.  He  was  born  April  13,  1806,  in  Onon 
daga  County,  New  York.  In  1821,  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Farmington.  When  he  was  ten  years  old,  his 
mother,  a  devoted  Christian,  gave  her  son  to  God,  and 


308  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

bidding  him  follow  her,  she  left  him,  and  was  borne  to 
her  grave  amid  plentiful  tears.  From  that  day,  heaven 
was  to  him  a  dear  place.  The  Savior  was  precious ;  the 
Bible  was  sacred;  but  confused  by  the  teaching  of  the 
day  he  found  no  peace,  till  in  his  twenty-third  year  he 
obeyed  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  way  was  now  clear, 
and  the  young  disciple  and  future  preacher  of  righteous- 
ness studied  diligently  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  began  to 
exhort  sinners  to  turn  to  God.  He  rose  rapidly.  His 
whole  nature  was  aglow.  Gifted  with  great  copiousness 
of  language,  and  fluency  of  speech,  his  natural  timidity 
yielded  to  his  mastering  zeal,  and  he  was  heard  gladly 
wherever  he  went.  The  church  of  Bazetta  caught  hold  of 
the  hand  of  this  young  Timothy,  gave  him  a  home  among 
them,  and  helped  him  on  his  way. 

For  about  twelve  years  he  was  among  the  churches. 
And  who  shall  describe  the  swell  of  holy  enthusiasm 
which  every- where  attended  his  labors?  Converts  came 
like  the  dew-drops  of  the  morning.  In  his  hands  the  gos- 
pel was  luminous  and  tender,  melting  the  heart,  and  con- 
vincing the  judgment  with  such  a  power,  and  an  array  of 
evidences  so  abundant  and  pungent,  that  all  who  heard 
admired,  and  many  yielded  to  his  trumpet  call  to  repent- 
ance. He  preached  twice  a  day,  sometimes  thrice,  sung 
much,  was  a  great  talker,  and  not  having,  like  Paul,  a 
Silas  or  Timotheus  to  baptize  his  converts,  his  personal 
administrations  of  that  sacred  ordinance  were  almost  daily. 

He  was  cheerful,  but  never  trifling,  serious,  and  most 
earnest,  with  a  voice  of  good  compass  and  charming  tone. 
His  pathos  excelled  his  logic,  in  which,  however,  he  was 
not  deficient.  His  sermons  were  long,  closing  up  with  ex- 
hortations of  warmth  and  power.  He  overworked ;  his 
constitution  lost  its  iron,  and  he  became  a  prey  to  frailty 
and  fever.  On  the  12th  of  September,  1848,  his  most 
active  and  useful  life  closed  at  his  home  in  Sharon,  Penn- 
sylvania.   He  was  twice  married;  the  last  time  to  Mrs. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  3<X) 

Margaret  McCieery,  relict  of  Hugh  McCleery,  of  Sharon. 
She  was  much  respected  for  her  benevolence  and  steadfast- 
ness in  the  faith,  and  has  recently  joined  him  in  the  prom- 
ised rest. 

The  Church  in  Green  Founded. 

The  church  in  Green,  Trumbull  County,  was  or- 
ganized the  first  Sunday  in  January,  185 1,  by  Isaac 
Errett  and  C.  Bosworth.  The  following  eleven  per- 
sons were  the  members  :  Walter  Bartlett  and  Pru- 
dence Bartlett,  Wm.  D.  Morris  and  Mary  A.  Morris, 
Edwin  Wakefield  and  Mary  Wakefield,  Eldad  Barton 
and  California  Barton,  Austin  Dean,  Deborah  Curtis, 
and  Polly  Smith.  Walter  Bartlett  was  chosen  over- 
seer, and  Wm.  D.  Morris,  deacon.  There  were  twenty 
additions  during  the  year  ;  ten  in  a  meeting  held  by 
Calvin  Smith  in  November  after  this  organization. 

Bro.  Edwin  Wakefield,  widely  and  favorably  known 
for  his  success  in  the  gospel,  was  baptized  here 
in  the  spring  of  1845,  by  tne  able  Perky,  in  a  meeting 
held  there  by  him.  Bro.  Bartlett  has  from  the  be- 
ginning held  a  leading  position.  He  was  born  1801, 
and  came  to  Mecca  with  his  parents  in  181 8.  In 
1 82 1,  he  heard  Mr.  Campbell  deliver  two  discourses 
in  Warren,  which  were  "  nails  driven  in  sure  places  " 
with  him.  He  united  with  the  F.  W.  Baptists,  and 
preached  among  that  people  a  few  years.  His  asso- 
ciations and  reading  opened  his  mind  to  the  plea  and 
principles  of  the  disciples  ;  and  as  he  earnestly  sought 
only  to  know  and  teach  the  truth,  he  sometimes  pro- 
claimed sentiments  not  in  the  theological  system  of 
that  sect.  He  was  arraigned  in  the  quarterly  meet- 
ing for  heresy,  and  after  various  hearings,  they  re- 
fused to  renew  his  license.  They  granted  him  a 
letter,  and  as  the  brethren  in  Bazetta  had  been  kind 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


to  him,  he  presented  to  them  his  letter,  was  received, 
and  after  due  time  was  ordained  an  elder  in  the  con- 
gregation. This  was  in  1836.  Though  no  church 
was  established  in  Green  till  the  year  185 1,  as  above 
related,  Bro.  Bartlett's  tongue  was  not  silent,  nor  his 
light  under  a  cover.  There  was  occasional  preaching 
there  by  Alton,  Brockett,  Perky,  Hartzel,  and  Bos- 
worth.  Wm.  Hayden  and  Elder  T.  Campbell  ex- 
plored the  land  as  early  as  1828. 

The  church  numbers  about  eighty  members.  Bro. 
E.  Wakefield  has  long  been  a  "captain  of  hundreds" 
among  them,  and  his  son,  E.  B.  Wakefield,  is  rising 
to  usefulness  as  a  proclaimer  of  the  gospel.  Bro.  A.  C. 
Bartlett,  son  of  Bro.  W.  Bartlett,  for  many  years  be- 
fore the  public,  is  a  gift  to  the  cause  from  this  church. 

Bro.  W.  Bartlett  writes  :  "  It  is  wonderful  to  see  what 
great  results  sometimes  spring  from  small  causes.  I 
can  not  doubt  that  my  hearing  A.  Campbell  in  182 1, 
was  the  cause  of  my  withdrawing  from  the  F.  W. 
Baptists  and  uniting  with  the  Disciples  ;  and  this  led 
me  to  labor  for  an  organization  in  Green,  which, 
through  the  blessing  of  God,  I  have  seen  accom- 
plished. The  seed,  after  passing  through  more  than 
one  crucible,  and  occasionally  watered,  not  only 
brought  forth  the  blade  in  1836,  but  the  full  ear  in 
1 85  1,  and  has  produced  fruit  ever  since.  How  little 
did  I  think  when  I  was  listening  to  those  sermons 
that  they  were  to  have  an  influence  on  me  through 
all  my  life !  But  I  now  know  that  this  has  been  the 
case.  It  has  taught  me  to  sow  the  seed  of  the  king- 
dom wherever  I  could,  for  I  knew  not  how  much 
might  fall  on  good  ground,  and  bring  fcrth  fruit  in 
the  salvation  of  souls." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Primitive  Christianity  in  Deerfield — E.  B.  Hubbard — Experiences 
of  J.  Hartzel — Church  formed — Scott's  Sermon — Captain  Al- 
lerton  surrenders — John  Schaeffer  relieved  of  Lutheranism. 

EPHRAIM  B.  HUBBARD  was  born  in  Duchess 
County,  New  York,  February  28,  1792.  His 
father,  of  Connecticut  ancestry,  moved  to  Deerfield, 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  in  1802,  Ephraim  being  then 
ten  years  old.  His  early  life  was  the  usual  toil  and 
privations  in  a  new  country.  His  education  was 
gained  in  the  primitive  log  school-house.  But  the 
thirsty  soul  can  drink  water  from  goblet  or  gourd. 
Hubbard  learned  rapidly,  and  acquired  information 
which  placed  him  high  among  his  fellow-citizens,  and 
eventually  raised  him  to  a  seat  in  the  Ohio  Legislat- 
ure. 

July  1,  1 8 17,  he  married  Miss  Mary  McGowan, 
whose  father  was  an  early  emigrant  from  Maryland. 
After  raising  eight  children,  and  filling  faithfully  the 
duties  of  domestic  and  social  life,  she  fell  peacefully 
asleep,  October  13,  1839.  Hubbard  was  re-married 
to  Miss  Jerusha  Reed,  and  is  enjoying  life  at  eighty- 
three. 

The  Methodists  pre-empted  Deerfield.  The  Hub- 
bards  gave  assent  to  their  assumed  claim,  all  except 
Ephraim.  He  held  membership  with  them  about 
four  years,  but  he  openly  protested  against  the  creed 
and  discipline  as  a  direct  challenge  of  the  rights 


312  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


of  the  King.  He  felt  relieved,  however,  of  responsi- 
bility on  the  subject,  as  he  had  been  cordially  received 
with  expressed  opposition  to  it  as  an  unauthorized 
usurpation  of  the  place  of  the  Word  of  God  in  the 
government  of  his  church. 

About  this  time  a  Methodist  class  was  formed  in 
Smith  Township,  under  the  leadership  of  Gideon 
Hoadley.  This  class  solicited  Hubbard  to  unite  and 
assist  them.  To  this  he  consented  on  condition  that 
he  should  not  be  required  to  assent  to  the  "disci- 
pline." This  band  of  Christians,  acting  on  their  in- 
herent rights,  and,  in  this  act,  setting  aside  the  rules 
of  the  Methodist  church,  unanimously  agreed  to  his 
terms.  Accordingly,  himself  and  his  wife,  who  was 
a  Baptist,  became  members  the  same  day.  With  the 
same  noble  sentiments,  his  brother-in-law,  Samuel 
McGowan,  a  Baptist,  and  his  wife,  a  Presbyterian, 
offered  themselves  for  membership.  Some  demurred, 
alleging  that  the  rules  of  the  church  should  be  en- 
forced. Bro.  Hubbard  asked  them  to  delay  a  de- 
cision for  two  weeks,  and  to  search  the  Word  of  God 
for  authority  to  guide  their  action.  To  this  they 
assented  ;  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  no  precedent 
or  other  authority  for  a  period  of  probation  being 
found,  McGowan  and  his  wife  were  cordially  received. 

As  soon  as  this  was  known  by  the  authorities  of 
that  church,  Presiding  Elder  Swaize  came  with  the 
circuit  rider,  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor,  denounced  these  whole 
proceedings  as  a  violation  of  the  rules  of  the  disci- 
pline, and  declared  the  class  dissolved. 

But  this  was  not  the  last  of  it.  The  most  of  the 
class  were  so  dissatisfied  with  this  invasion  of  their 
rights  as  men  and  Christians,  that  they  held  them- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  313 

selves  aloof  from  any  farther  union  with  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  stood  ready  for  the  coming  light,  which 
was  soon  to  result  in  a  practical  and  permanent  union 
of  these  and  many  others  on  New  Testament 
grounds.  The  leader  of  the  class,  Bro.  Hoadley,  be- 
ing one  of  this  number. 

As  the  history  of  a  religious  movement  is  identical 
with  that  of  its  chief  actors,  I  insert  some  notice  and 
experiences  of  Biv>.  Jonas  Hartzel,  associated  with 
the  origin  of  this  church,  and  long  identified  with  it. 

He  was  born  October  19,  1803,  in  North  Hamp- 
ton County,  Pa.,  In  1805,  his  parents  settled,  with 
several  other  families  of  the  same  name  and  kindred, 
in  Deerfield,  then  quite  an  unbroken  wilderness. 
Now  let  his  own  pen  continue  the  recital : 

"On  the  second  day  of  June,  1825,  the  marriage  con- 
tract between  myself  and  Miss  Alice  Wallahan  was  con- 
summated. In  religious  profession  we  were  divided  ;  but 
in  religious  tendencies,  jndustrial  habits,  domestic  econ- 
omy, and  love  of  home,  we  were  happily  united. 

"Soon  after  this  my  mind  became  more  seriously  af- 
fected with  my  religious  condition.  My  wife  being  a 
Methodist,  we  occasionally  attended  Methodist  preaching. 
This  brought  before  me  the  complications  of  Calvinism 
and  Arminianism.  Sovereign  grace  put  on  the  more  ortho- 
dox face,  but  free  grace  wore  the  more  pleasant  smile. 
But  the  effect  was  uncertainty  and  doubt,  and  this  was 
followed  by  skepticism  in  the  current  religion  of  the 
times.  Meanwhile  I  said  nothing  in  relation  to  my 
troubles,  until  in  an  evil  hour  I  communicated  the  state 
of  my  mind  to  my  father.  It  was,  as  we  then  called  it, 
a  sacramental  occasion.  I  attended  all  the  sessions  until 
Monday  morning. 

u  My  father  saw  from  my  movements  that  I  did  not 
27 


314  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

intend  to  go  to  meeting.  He  came  to  where  I  was  at 
work,  and  asked:  'Jonas,  an't  you  going  to  meeting  to- 
day ? '  To  which  I  said  :  1  Father,  you  know  my  business 
is  urgent,  and  going  to  meeting  is  doing  me  no  good  ;  I  go 
to  our  meeting,  and  our  preacher  preaches  unconditional 
election  and  reprobation ;  I  go  to  Methodist  meeting,  and 
the  preacher  will  preach  an  opposite  doctrine  from  the 
same  text.  Father,  there  is  something  wrong.  We  all 
say  we  are  influenced  by  the  same  spirit;  we  are  all  read- 
ing the  same  Bible ;  we  are  all  traveling  the  same  road  to 
the  same  heaven.  The  different  parties  acknowledge  each 
other  to  be  Christians,  but  each  party  says  my  way  is  the 
right  way,  and  I  can  not  tell  which  way  is  the  right  one.' 
To  this  my  father  made  no  reply,  but  as  he  turned  away, 
I  saw  the  falling  tear.  My  regret  for  this  freedom  was 
bitter.  I  threw  down  my  tools,  and  I  wasin  the  meeting- 
house as  soon  as  himself. 

"  Not  long  after  this  a  new  trouble  sprang  up.  Having 
returned  from  meeting,  and  dinner  over,  my  wife  asked : 
'What  evidence  is  there  for  infant  baptism?'  This  ques- 
tion, coming  from  this  source,  produced  strange  emotions. 
Knowing  that  the  subject  of  baptism  was  not  under  discus- 
sion in  our  respective  families  or  neighborhood,  added  no 
little  to  my  surprise.  'Alice,'  I  said;  'why  do  you  ask 
me  this  question?  '  '  If  there  is  any  evidence  in  the  Bible 
for  infant  baptism,  I  want  it,  for  I  never  had  any  confi- 
dence in  my  baptism,'  was  her  reply.  'Well,'  I  replied, 
'I  can  satisfy  your  mind.' 

"  I  took  down  the  Scriptures,  and  read  those  passages 
upon  which  I  had  always  relied  for  defense.  I  read  them, 
but  the  reading  was  of  no  avail.  I  must  draw  inferences. 
The  Lord  only  knew  the  deep  mortification  I  suffered. 
My  witnesses  were  against  me.  I  saved  appearances  as 
best  I  could,  laid  up  the  book,  and  said  we  would  talk 
upon  this  subject  at  another  time.  I  now  saw  the  differ- 
ence between  the  controversialist  and  the  impartial  in- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  3  1 5 

structor.  I  could  no  more  mislead  my  dear  wife,  than  my 
own  soul.  Before  this,  I  saw  infant  baptism  in  '  Suffer 
little  children  to  come  unto  me,'  in  the  baptism  of  Cor- 
nelius, Lydia,  the  jailer,  Stephanas,  and  their  households  ; 
and  when  hard  pressed  by  an  opponent  I  could  find  it  in 
circumcision,  but  under  these  new  circumstances  it  had  de- 
parted, given  up  the  ghost  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan, 
and  left  me  in  mourning. 

"Between  denominational  pride  and  conviction  there 
was  a  fierce  contest  for  a  short  time.  But  I  finally  resolved 
to  be  true  to  my  convictions,  and  I  made  an  honest  sur- 
render. I  said,  *  My  dear  wife,  I  can  give  you  no  Bible 
evidence  for  infant  baptism,  for  there  is  none.  I  am  now 
convinced  that  it  is  a  human  device ;  and  neither  we, 
nor  so  much  as  one  of  our  extensive  family  connections 
are  in  the  church  of  Christ,  according  to  the  law  of  the 
Lord.' 

"  I  now  became  more  confirmed  in  the  conviction,  that 
there  was  something  wrong  in  the  denominational  exhibi- 
tions of  Christianity.  I  had  been  misled  by  wise  and  good 
men.  I  also  discovered  that  I  had  never  read  the  Script- 
ures, to  form  sentiments  for  myself.  My  religion  consisted 
in  opinions,  rather  than  faith.  I  had  been  acting  upon  the 
credit  system,  and  I  was  determined  to  abandon  it  at  once. 
This  led  us  to  the  only  reliable  source  of  knowledge.  We 
now  began  to  read  the  Bible  as  we  had  never  read  it  be- 
fore. The  question  of  infant  baptism  was  now  disposed 
of,  and  we  regarded  ourselves  as  unbaptized.  Then  we 
examined  the  specific  passages  in  the  New  Testament  on 
faith.  This  was  the  subject  of  my  greatest  trouble. 
Sometimes  I  thought  I  had  a  hope,  and  again  I  doubted. 
I  knew  I  had  never  felt  and  experienced  what  others  said 
they  had,  and  I  attributed  my  darkness  to  unbelief.  Yet  I 
knew  I  did  believe.  But,  in  our  classification  at  that  time, 
there  were  four  kinds  of  faith — speculative,  historical, 
dead,  and  saving  faith — the  latter  only  was  of  saving 


3 16  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


value.  This  faith  I  supposed  I  had  not,  and  had  no 
means  of  obtaining.  The  first  three  might  be  the  result 
of  the  Scriptures,  and  were  of  no  avail ;  while  saving  faith 
was  the  direct  gift  of  God.  This  gift  was  the  burden  of 
my  daily  prayer.  In  our  course  of  reading  we  came  to 
this  Scripture:  'And  many  other  signs  truly  did  Jesus  in 
the  presence  of  his  disciples,  which  are  not  written  in  this 
book :  but  these  are  written,  that  ye  might  believe  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God;  and  that  believing 
ye  might  have  life  through  his  name.'    John  xx :  30,  31. 

"  I  exclaimed!  'This  faith  I  have  had  from  my  child- 
hood !  ' 

"  I  said,  adopting  the  language  of  David,  1  The  Lord 
has  brought  me  into  a  large  place.'  This  discovery  came 
like  a  flood  of  light.  The  gospel  in  all  its  facts  and  phases 
assumed  new  and  lovely  aspects.  The  gospel  appeared 
intelligible,  and  its  promised  blessings  accessible.  This 
was  to  us  the  beginning  of  anew  life  and  new  joys.  We 
had  new  incentives  to  read  the  Bible." 

Samuel  McGowan  was  a  devout  man,  possessed 
of  solid  mind,  with  great  power  of  analysis.  One 
day  he  met  Jonas  Hartzel,  his  brother-in-law,  and 
said :  "  I  fear  Alexander  Campbell  has  fallen  into  a 
grievous  error."  44  What  is  it?"  "In  the  last 
number  of  the  'Christian  Baptist '  he  maintains  that 
baptism,  preceded  by  faith  and  repentance,  is  for  the 
remission  of  sins."  Hartzel  replied  :  "  I  have  advo- 
cated that  for  some  months  past  myself.  In  defend- 
ing anti-pedobaptist  views  with  other  folds,  I  re- 
ferred to  Acts  ii :  38 ;  where  it  says,  '  Repent,  and 
be  baptized  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  for  the 
remission  of  sins.'  I  found  this  to  be  a  new  and 
unanswerable  argument   against   infant  baptism." 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


317 


"  Well,"  said  McGowan,  u  I  guess  you  '11  read  the 
1  Christian  Baptist '  now  ! " 

Thus  the  investigations  ran,  till  the  Hartzels, 
Hubbards,  McGowans,  Finch,  and  others  agreed  to 
form  a  society  for  the  investigation  of  Scripture 
subjects.  They  were  fully  awake  to  the  sad  condi- 
tion of  the  Christian  churches,  so  called,  divided, 
alienated,  contradictory  in  doctrine  and  work,  and 
that  this  state  of  things  was  not  only  unauthorized 
by  the  word  of  God,  but  contrary  to  it.  And  they 
were  equally  convinced  both  of  the  truth  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  unity  of  their  teaching  on 
all  practical  subjects.  This  noble  band  of  men  and 
women  bound  themselves  together  to  find  out  that 
truth,  and  to  walk  together  in  it.  They  resolved  to 
meet  weekly,  and  semi-weekly  when  convenient. 
This  was  in  March,  1827.  Bro.  Hartzel's  pen  may 
proceed  with  the  story : 

"There  were  in  this  little  band  the  following  persons: 
Cornelius  P.  Finch,  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  his  wife; 
Ephraim  B.  Hubbard  and  his  wife,  he  an  active  Metho- 
dist and  his  wife  a  Baptist ;  Samuel  McGowan  and  wife,  he 
a  Baptist  and  his  wife  a  Presbyterian ;  Peter  HartzeL  and 
wife,  he  a  Presbyterian  and  his  wife  a  Baptist ;  myself  and 
wife,  myself  a  Presbyterian,  but  not  a  communicant,  and 
my  wife  a  Methodist.  There  were  a  few  others.  The  first 
three  named  were  our  chief  speakers.  We  assumed  that 
the  Christian  religion,  in  its  fullness  and  perfectness,  was 
recorded  in  the  New  Testament,  and  what  could  not  be 
there  found,  or  what  could  not  be  read  from  this  book 
was  no  part  of  Christianity.  We  also  assumed  that  this 
was  an  intelligible  document,  for,  if  not  adapted  to  the 
common  intelligence  of  mankind,  it  could  not  be  received 


3l8  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


as  a  revelation  from  God  to  man.  In  these  predicates  we 
agreed. 

"  Our  work  was  now  before  us,  and  we  had  a  will  to  do 
it.  But  little  did  we  know  of  the  magnitude  or  the  dif- 
ficulties-of  the  work  to  which  we  had  committed  ourselves. 
Our  meetings  increased.  Some  came  in  from  feelings  of 
opposition,  others  from  motives  of  curiosity.  Stephen 
M.  Hubbard,  a  Methodist  preacher  and  a  worthy  man,  at- 
tended occasionally,  and  participated  freely  and  affection- 
ately in  our  discussions.  Our  number  at  one  time,  I 
think,  was  twenty-two.  The  three  most  popular  church 
parties  were  all  represented  among  us,  both  in  number  and 
intelligence ;  therefore  our  discussions  took  a  wide  range. 
Sometimes  we  discussed  the  intelligibility  of  the  Script- 
ures, their  all-sufficiency  for  the  purposes  of  enlighten- 
ment, conversion,  Christian  perfection,  church  govern- 
ment. Then  the  *  special  call'  to  the  ministry  ;  how  does 
faith  come ;  how  many  kinds  of  faith ;  which  is  first  in 
order — faith  or  repentance  ;  can  a  sinner  believe  and  obey 
the  gospel,  acceptably  and  savingly,  without  some  super- 
added spiritual  influence  from  above;  should  an  unbe- 
liever pray  for  faith ;  is  the  gospel  a  dead  letter,  or  does 
it  possess  inherent,  quickening  power;  when,  where,  and 
by  whom  was  the  gospel  first  preached.  The  difference 
between  the  first  and  second  commission  which  Christ  gave 
to  his  apostles ;  apostolic  succession ;  the  abrogation  of 
the  Mosaic  dispensation  ;  the  subjects,  mode,  and  design 
of  baptism  ;  should  a  sinner  be  baptized  on  the  confession 
of  his  faith  in  Christ,  or  on  an  approved  experience. 
All  these  subjects  were  under  earnest  discussion  for  about 
one  year. 

"These  were  great  questions,  and  on  account  of  our  old 
theologies,  they  were  exceedingly  perplexing. 

"  No  doctrinal  standard  was  appealed  to.  All  human 
authorities  were  ignored.  The  Bible  was  our  book  ;  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  apostles  were  our  umpire;  and  our  work 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


319 


was  personal  in  its  object.  We  were  sick  of  denomina- 
tionalism.  All  save  Bro.  Finch  and  his  wife,  had  a  relig- 
ious opponent  in  his  or  her  own  bosom.  Primarily  our 
objects  were  to  save  our  souls  from  sin,  and  to  sweeten  our 
domestic  enjoyments  by  a  return  to  that  gospel  which  was 
from  the  beginning.  We  had  but  two  alternatives  be- 
tween which  to  choose;  either  to  transmit  religious  party- 
ism,  with  all  its  bitter  fruits,  to  our  rising  families,  and 
live  and  die  in  that  state  of  doubt  and  uncertainty,  vascil- 
lating  between  hope  and  fear,  the  inevitable  result  of  a 
mixed  profession,  or  to  find  relief  by  going  back  to  the 
old  record,  to  1  look  up  the  old  paths  and  walk  therein.' 

"Now  for  the  practical  results.  In  the  month  of  May, 
1828,  we  determined  to  enter  into  church  relations.  The 
question  of  baptism  came  up.  It  was  suggested  by  one  of 
the  senior  brethren  who  had  been  immersed,  that  those  of 
our  number  who  did  not  yet  see  their  way  clear,  might 
come  into  membership  on  their  former  baptism,  until  such 
time  as  they  might  see  their  duty  more  clearly.  To  which 
I  replied,  that  myself  and  wife  had  been  desirous  to  be 
baptized  for  some  months  past,  but  were  waiting  an  op- 
portunity; and  we  would  not  stand  out-door  and  do  in- 
door work.  This  at  once  settled  the  question  in  favor  of 
immersion  as  a  condition  of  membership. 

"Immediately  brethren  Hubbard  and  Finch  were  re- 
quested by  the  meeting  to  visit  Adamson  Bentley  and 
Marcus  Bos  worth,  to  obtain  their  attendance  to  preach  for 
us,  and  administer  baptism,  and  assist  in  a  formal  church 
organization  on  the  New  Testament  basis.  On  Saturday, 
preceding  the  second  Lord's  day  in  June,  1828,  these 
brethren  came.  Before  preaching,  a  few  were  baptized, 
and  more  on  the  day  following.  Then  thirteen  'gave 
themselves  to  the  Lord  and  to  one  another. ' 

"The  test  to  which  our  investigations  conducted  us 
was  a  rigid  one.  To  abandon  long  cherished  opinions, 
and  to  dissolve  endeared  church  relations,  requires  strong 


320  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

faith  and  great  conscientiousness.  Especially  is  this  true 
in  the  case  now  before  us.  One  profession  may  be  ex- 
changed for  another,  one  creed  for  another,  and  one  party 
name  for  another  without  much  sacrifice  or  loss  of  reputa- 
tion. But  to  abjure  party,  creed,  and  name,  and  espouse 
the  simple  gospel,  involves  reputation,  and,  in  the  case  of 
ministers,  standing,  character,  and  support. 

"  This  congregation  grew  in  favor  with 

all  who  gave  us  a  candid  hearing.  In  less  than  six  months 
our  number  was  about  sixty.  Seven  of  these  were  strong 
men,  and  did  more  or  less  evangelical  work  in  the  region 
round  about,  and  the  Deerfield  church  became  a  radiating 
point,  a  center  of  Christian  influence." 

November  7,  1828,  Walter  S.cott  first  preached  in 
Deerfield.  His  reputation  had  preceded  him,  and 
expectation  was  high.  The  house  was  filled  densely 
at  an  early  hour.  His  victories  in  other  fields  plumed 
his  hopes,  and  prepared  him  for  the  occasion.  It  is 
to  be  spoken  of  that  remarkable  man  that  he  seldom 
came  into  an  assembly  unprepared.  Though  atten- 
tive to  all  that  was  about  him,  his  theme  absorbed 
him,  and  it  was  matured.  I  have  often  seen  him 
with  his  face  bowed  almost  to  his  knees  as  he  sat 
waiting  the  moment  for  opening,  with  his  hands 
covering  it,  evidently  lifting  his  soul  like  Jacob  for 
a  blessing.  On  this  occasion  the  people  were  on  his 
heart,  and  each  soul  was  a  kingdom  to  be  won  for 
Christ.  His  first  sentence  commanded  every  ear. 
"  The  world  has  been  wrong  three  times,  it  has  been 
well  nigh  ruined  a  fourth."  Proceeding  through  the 
Patriarchal,  the  Jewish  and  Christian  dispensations, 
he  shed  on  each  such  a  flood  of  light,  that  the  whole 
Bible  seemed  luminous.    The  sermon  lasted  three 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


321 


hours.  At  the  end  of  his  discourse  on  the  Patri- 
archal dispensation  he  paused,  and  turning  to  Sister 
Jane  Davis,  a  sister  from  Wales,  of  fine  musical  pow- 
ers, he  said:  "Sister  Jane,  sing  us  one  of  your 
songs."  Then  resuming,  he  opened  the  Jewish  age 
to  their  understanding.  "  Sister  Davis,  another  of 
your  beautiful  songs."  Then  gathering  up  his 
strength  he  presented  the  Christian  institution,  the 
full  and  complete  development  of  God's  mercy  to  lost 
man. 

The  effect  was  perceptible  every-where.  Eleven 
souls  accepted  the  offered  mercy.  Capt.  Amos  Al- 
lerton  and  Capt.  Horace  Rogers  were  of  the  number. 

Capt.  Allerton  was  an  influential  citizen,  of  fine 
social  qualities,  good  intellectual  abilities,  high  toned, 
generous,  sensitive,  quick  of  discernment,  and  frank, 
almost  to  a  fault.  Tall,  heavy  frame,  not  muscular, 
but  of  immense  physical  power.  Yet  this  fine  ship 
carried  no  faith.  Having  heard  of  Scott  and  his  do- 
ings, that  he  baptized  people  and  promised  them 
heaven,  sometimes  taking  them  by  force  into  bap- 
tismal floods,  he  went  to  the  meeting  fully  intent  on 
seeing  fair  play,  and  not  permitting  such  perform- 
ances in  Deerfield.  And  he  was  just  the  man  for 
such  a  venture,  had  there  been  a  call  for  it.  How 
was  he  taken  aback  when  he  beheld  a  small  man,  of 
gentlemanly  manners  equaled  by  few,  delicate  in 
build,  with  every  evidence  in  lineament,  and  form, 
and  speech  of  the  gentlest  and  the  noblest  of  na- 
tures !  He  was  disarmed  of  all  his  useless  purposes, 
and  he  resolved  to  hear  him  carefully  and  candidly. 
He  caught  his  first  word  and  his  last.  As  the  great 
dispensations  moved  on  before  him  in  that  grand 


322  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

discourse,  like  panoramic  illuminations,  he  saw  what 
he  never  saw  before — order,  system,  plan,  arrange- 
ment, and  development  in  the  Bible  history  of  human 
redemption.  As  the  eloquent  preacher  approached 
the  conclusion,  Allerton's  skepticism  had  vanished, 
and  he  felt  his  heart  moved,  as  never  before,  by  the 
view  of  the  Savior,  suffering  on  the  cross  for  the  sins 
of  the  whole  world,  opening  there  the  fountain  where 
all  must  come,  and  wash  and  be  clean. 

As  the  preacher  said,  "  Clear  the  way  and  let  the 
people  come  and  confess  their  faith  in  Jesus  Christ 
and  be  pardoned,"  Allerton  started  with  a  decision 
so  quick,  and  a  step  so  prompt,  that  Scott  felt 
alarmed  at  seeing  him  crowding  so  resolutely  along. 
No  sooner  was  he  seated  than  Scott's  fears  subsided, 
and  he  felt  as  Ananias  after  the  Lord  had  said  to 
him  "  Behold,  he  prayeth  !  " 

This  community  presents  a  favorable  example  of 
steady  and  continued  growth.  Her  elders,  C.  P. 
Finch  and  E.  B.  Hubbard  were  men  of  distinction  as 
speakers.  Bro.  Finch  had  been  a  circuit  rider  among 
the  Methodists.  With  the  frankness  of  character 
for  which  he  was  distinguished,  he  quickly  saw,  and 
promptly  embraced  the  principles  of  this  appeal  for 
a  restoration  of  primitive  Christianity.  "Ye  may 
all  prophesy,  one  by  one,  that  all  may  learn,  and  all 
be  comforted,"  (i  Cor.  xii  131.)  No  church  better 
exemplified  this  Scripture.  Thus  the  church  was 
able  to  "  edify  itself  in  love ; "  and  moreover  from 
them  "  sounded  out  the  word  into  every  place." 
All  the  churches  within  a  radius  of  thirty  miles  felt 
the  power  of  this  congregation.  Many  became 
highly  competent  teachers,  as  Peter  Hartzel,  Samuel 


FN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE 


323 


McGowan,  Alex.  Hubbard;  and  several  rose  to  emi- 
nence, such  as  E.  B.  Hubbard,  J.  Hartzel,  A.  Aller- 
ton,  C.  P.  Finch,  and  John  Schaeffer.  From  her 
came  the  Laughlins — Milo  Laughlin,  of  Missouri,  and 
A.  J.  Laughlin,  of  Indiana.  While  depending  on 
their  regular  steady  meetings,  they  have  enjoyed 
the  labors  of  most  of  the  preachers — Henry,  Hay- 
den,  Bosworth,  Brockett,  Lanphear,  Perky,  the 
Erretts,  Belding,  M.  L.  Wilcox,  Streator.  And  time 
would  fail  to  tell  of  their  glorious  work  in  Christ. 
From  her  have  gone,  besides  those  named,  W.  W. 
Hayden,  W.  L.  Hayden,  and  M.  P.  Hayden,  the  three 
sons  of  Daniel  Hayden,  all  fully  educated,  and  all 
giving  themselves  to  the  ministry. 

It  should  be  recorded  in  honor  of  the  power  of 
woman,  too  frequently  left  in  the  shade,  that  to  the 
influence  of  one  female  in  their  number  is  largely 
and  justly  due  this  early  Christian  enterprise.  The 
firmness  of  character  needed  to  support  faltering 
resolution  was  found  in  the  inflexible  purpose  of  heart 
of  Mrs.  Polly  Hubbard,  the  wife  of  Bro.  E.  B.  Hub- 
bard. To  her  devotion  to  truth,  to  her  clearness  of 
perception  of  it  as  taught  in  the  gospel,  to  her 
marked  and  consistent  evenness  of  character  and 
firmness  of  mind,  her  husband  was  greatly  indebted 
for  encouraging  support  in  many  an  hour  of  fierce 
trial,  to  which  their  position  and  principles  were 
subjected  in  those  times  of  conflict  and  debate. 

The  same  honorable  mention  should  be  made  of 
several  others,  the  wives  of  men  whose  names  have 
won  renown.  To  their  prudence,  firmness,  and 
cheerful  devotion  to  the  cause,  and  endurance  of  toil 
and  reproach,  equal  to  their  husbands,  is  to  be  cred- 


324  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ited  a  full  measure  of  the  success  of  the  gospel  in 
Deerrield. 

In  the  year  1834,  there  was  an  accession  to  the 
reformation  from  the  ranks  of  Lutheranism  of  one 
of  their  ministers.  The  recital  of  his  change  of 
views  presents  so  much  information,  that  it  can  not 
rightfully  be  withheld  from  the  reader.  We  refer  to 
the  case  of  Rev.  John  Schaeffer,  of  Columbiana 
County.  We  are  thankful  that  we  can  give  it  from 
Bro.  SchaerTer's  own  candid  and  careful  pen : 

'*  Dear  Bro.  Hayden: 

"By  your  request  I  will  give  you  a  brief  history  of  my 
life,  exclusively  on  those  points  you  suggest. 

u  1.  The  place  of  my  nativity  is  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania.  My  religious  training  was  that  of  the  most 
ultra  order  of  the  Lutherans.  Being  of  poor  parentage,  I 
did  not  enjoy  the  advantage  of  a  collegiate  education.  At 
the  age  of  twenty,  I  was  placed  under  the  theological  in- 
struction of  Rev.  John  Wagenhals,  a  fine  scholar  from 
Germany,  and  a  gentleman  in  the  true  sense  of  that  word. 
I  studied  the  theology  of  the  Lutheran  church  one  year, 
after  which,  by  his  influence  I  obtained,  when  examined, 
a  license  to  preach,  sprinkle  infants,  catechize,  and  sol- 
emnize marriage  contracts;  but  denied  the  right  of  ad- 
ministering the  Lord's  Supper,  and  a  voice  in  the  synodi- 
cal  and  ministerial  sessions.  This  was  to  assist  me  in  the 
prosecution  of  my  studies  for  another  year.  After  which 
I  obtained  license  after  being  examined  in  theology,  by 
which  I  was  clothed  with  all  the  ministerial  functions,  save 
a  voice  in  the  ministerial  session,  which  privilege  was  con- 
sequent upon  ordination ;  and  by  this  license  I  was  con- 
stituted a  candidate  for  ordination,  and  put  on  probation 
in  the  ministry  for  three  years;  after  which  term,  upon 
examination  of  my  orthodoxy  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  I 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


325 


was  ordained,  by  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  the  min- 
isterium,  to  the  office  of  pastor.  I  remained  with  the  so- 
ciety but  one  year  in  the  capacity  of  a  pastor.  My  entire 
stay  with  that  religious  order  was  five  years,  save  two 
months;  viz.  :  one  year  as  catechist,  three  years  as  candi- 
date on  probation,  and  one  year  as  ordained  minister  or 
^pastor. 

"2.  The  agencies  that  led  me  to  reform  in  many  of 
my  religious  views  were,  briefly,  these  :  While  yet  on  pro- 
bation, on  a  visit  to  my  father-in-law's  house,  I  had  an 
introduction  to  Bro.  Jonas  Hartzel  by  his  sister,  who,  after 
a  few  months,  became  my  companion  for  life.  Our  con- 
versation soon  turned  on  the  subject  of  religion,  which  was 
the  common  topic  of  those  days,  and  in  the  course  of  our 
interview  he  propounded  this  question:  'Which  in  the 
order  of  salvation  stands  first,  faith  or  repentance  ?  '  I 
answered  in  all  the  honesty  of  my  soul  as  I  was  taught, 
and  as  I  was  teaching,  not  suspecting,  in  the  least,  the 
possibility  of  a  negative  to  my  answer,  '  Repentance  pre- 
cedes true  and  evangelical,  or  saving  faith.'  Bro.  Hart- 
zel replied :  1  Do  you  hold  that  repentance  is  pleasing  to 
God  ?  '  1  Most  certainly,  else  he  never  would  have  com- 
manded it.'  Bro.  Hartzel  replied:  1  The  apostle  Paul 
says,  Hebrews  eleventh  chapter  :  Without  faith  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  please  God.'  This  was  enough  for  me  on  that  sub- 
ject. I  confessed  my  error,  and  from  henceforth  I  no 
more  preached  repentance  before  faith,  nor  justification  by 
faith  alone. 

"  This  was  the  first  time  my  confidence  in  Lutheranism 
was  ever  in  the  least  shaken.  I  felt  the  very  platform  on 
which  I  stoocl  tremble  beneath  me.  My  mind  became 
much  agitated.  The  idea  of  being  wrong  on  this  cardinal 
point,  prompted  the  inquiry,  may  we  not  be  in  error  in 
others  also  ?  Moreover,  the  whole  religious  world  was  ar- 
rayed before  me,  in  all  their  diversified  views  and  opin- 
ions on.  religion.     They  all  lay  equal  claims  to  divine 


326  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

truth  and  right.  I  was  forced  to  lay  aside  all  my  former 
prejudices,  and  come  to  the  charitable  conclusion  that  we 
are  all  alike  but  sects  and  parties,  and  all  wrong,  being  in 
opposition  to  each  other.  With  me  it  was  a  settled  logical 
fact,  that  two  opposites  can  not  both  be  right ;  it  is 
possible  that  both  may  be  wrong,  but  impossible  for  both 
to  be  right. 

"From  these  reflections  I  came  to  the  conclusion,  that 
Lutheranism  may  be  as  rich  in  error  as  any  other  ism. 
Hence  the  word  of  God  was  my  only  refuge ;  for  all  re- 
gard the  word  of  God  infallibly  true. 

"After  I  became  connected  with  the  Hartzel  family  I 
was  brought  into  frequent  contact  with  Bro.  J.  Hartzel. 
The  main  difficulties  in  my  way  were  the  questions  relating 
to  infant  church  membership,  predicated  on  the  perpetuity 
of  the  church  state,  which  received  its  visible  form  when 
Abraham  was  ninety  years  old,  and  received  the  covenant 
of  circumcision.  These  were  the  topics  discussed  when 
we  met.  Our  debates  were  warm  and  animated,  and  I 
thought  that  neither  of  us  had  much  to  boast  when  we  laid 
our  armor  off.  His  sister,  my  wife,  who  was  a  Disciple 
sentimentally,  long  before  we  were  married,  also  greatly 
aided  in  revolutionizing  my  views  on  these  subjects,  by 
propounding  questions,  and  leaving  me  to  struggle  under 
their  weight  to  work  out  a  solution,  without  ever  attempt- 
ing a  vindication  of  her  questions.  This  prudential 
course  had  its  desired  effect.  I  never  had  any  difficulty 
respecting  the  action  of  baptism.  I  well  understood  be- 
fore I  completed  my  theological  studies,  that  pouring  and 
sprinkling  were  substituted  for  baptism  by  the  authority 
with  which  the  ministers  professed  to  be*  clothed ;  be- 
lieving themselves  to  be  the  successors  of  the  apostles  in 
office,  embassadors  of  Christ,  having  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  committed  to  them.  Believing  all 
this,  I  was  fully  satisfied  that  I  was  doing  God  service  in 
sprinkling  a  little  water  on  the  face  of  an  innocent  babe 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


327 


in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  Bro. 
Hartzel  and  I  engaged  in  a  written  debate  on  these  sub- 
jects, during  which  time  I  availed  myself  of  all  the  aids 
in  my  power,  both  from  books  and  from  my  preaching 
brethren.  I  did  this  in  disguise,  not  wishing  that  the  se- 
cret workings  of  my  mind  should  be  made  manifest.  It 
was  customary  with  the  ministers  when  they  met  on  a 
visit,  in  order  to  pass  the  time  more  pleasantly  and  profit- 
ably to  themselves,  to  take  up  a  debatable  question  and 
discuss  it.  On  one  occasion  I  took  the  negative  of  infant 
baptism  with  the  pastor  of  the  German  Reformed  Church 
of  New  Lisbon.  He  being  a  scholar,  and  a  man  of  expe- 
rience, I  discussed  it  with  a  good  degree  of  energy,  pay- 
ing due  deference  to  his  age  and  superiority.  He  frankly 
confessed  that  infant  baptism  could  not  be  positively  sus- 
tained from  the  New  Testament,  and  closed  the  debate 
with  this  remark :  '  It  is  a  good  old  practice,  and  I  would 
have  my  children  baptized  if  the  whole  world  should  re- 
pudiate the  practice.'  On  another  occasion,  with  the 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Carrollton,  1  took  the 
negative  of  the  same  proposition.  He  made  the  same 
concession  as  the  former,  but  his  concluding  remark  dif- 
fered, viz.  :  'So  we  believe  and  so  we  preach.'  I  will  re- 
fer to  one  more  case :  Conversing  with  the  pastor  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Canton,  he  discovered  in  me  what  I 
did  not  so  fully  realize  myself,  and  thought  my  sentiments 
ran  in  the  direction  of  my  arguments.  When  we  gave 
each  other  the  parting  hand  he  said  :  '  I  fear  the  next  time 
I  shall  hear  from  you,  it  will  be  John  the  Baptist' — my 
name  being  John.  So  the  aid  I  sought  against  my  oppo- 
nent, made  me  weaker. 

"  In  the  meantime  I  had  in  charge  about  thirty  cate- 
chumens, instructing  them  in  the  religion  of  our  fathers, 
qualifying  them  for  the  act  of  confirmation,  in  which  act 
they  voluntarily  assume  their  baptismal  vows  made  in 
their  infancy  by  their  sponsors  or  god-parents.    The  time 


328 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


had  arrived  when  it  became  my  duty  to  ascertain  whether 
they  were  all  baptized.  After  asking  several  in  the  class 
and  receiving  an  affirmative  answer,  the  following  col- 
loquy ensued :  A  young  lady  whom  I  asked,  Are  you  bap- 
tized ?  answered,  '  I  do  not  know !  ' 

"  Que£  (  Do  you  not  know  that  you  were  baptized?' 

"  Arts.  'No.' 

"  Ques.  'Did  your  parents  never  tell  you  that  you  were 
baptized  ? ' 

"  Ans.  1  My  parents  told  me  that  I  was  sprinkled  when 
I  was  a  baby,  but  I  know  nothing  at  all  about  it.' 

"  The  argument  was  overwhelming.  A  personal  duty 
changed  into  an  item  of  faith,  robbing  the  believing  peni- 
tent of  one  of  the  greatest  privileges,  to  know  that  he 
has  put  on  Christ  in  baptism  through  faith  in  him.  (  It 
clinched  the  nail  Bro.  Hartzel  had  so  skillfully  driven. 
I  immediately  dismissed  my  class,  returned  home,  and 
said  to  my  wife,  'I  shall  never  sprinkle  another  infant 
while  I  live.'  She  congratulated  me  on  my  resolution, 
expressed  her  gratitude  and  joy,  and  remarked  ;  '  I  never 
believed  you  would  remain  a  pedobaptist  many  years.' 
This  resolution  of  mine  soon  became  public.  On  the 
night  of  the  same  day,  Mr.  Stewart,  one  of  the  deacons, 
called  on  me  to  come  and  baptize  an  infant  of  his  broth- 
er's, which  lay  at  the  point  of  death.  I  informed  him  I 
could  not  comply  without  a  divine  warrant;  I  am  fully 
convinced  that  heretofore  when  I  sprinkled  infants  I  did 
it  in  ignorance,  on  human  authority.  I  gave  him  my  rea- 
sons. The  effect  this  announcement  had  on  his  feelings 
could  not  easily  be  described.  He  left.  The  child  died 
that  night.  It  was  buried  tne  next  day,  and  I  was  not 
called  upon  to  conduct  the  funeral  services.  In  a  very 
few  days  it  was  published  throughout  all  my  congrega- 
tions that  I  had  refused  to  discharge  the  ministerial  obli- 
gations I  was  under  to  the  Lutheran  church. 

"I  wrote  a  letter  to  Bro.  Hartzel,  informing  him  of 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


329 


my  full  conviction  of  the  truth,  and  desired  him  to  send 
an  appointment  and  baptize  me.  This  brought  our  de- 
bate to  a  close.  He  cheerfully  responded  to  my  call,  sent 
an  appointment  to  the  Phillips  congregation,  filled  it  in 
company  with  Bro.  E.  B.  Hubbard ;  preached  on  a  sub- 
ject adapted  to  the  occasion,  after  which  my  happy  wife 
and  myself  were  immersed  by  Bro.  Hubbard,  in  the 
presence  of  a  goodly  number  of  my  Lutheran  brethren 
and  sisters,  March,  1834. 

"In  the  month  of  June  following  the  Synod  convened 
in  New  Lisbon.  I  addressed  a  letter  to  their  honorable 
body,  presenting  it  by  the  hands  of  Bro.  Benj.  Pritchard. 
The  proposition  for  a  hearing  was  discussed,  and  when  a 
vote  was  called,  the  nays  had  it  by  a  good  majority  of  the 
preachers.  Thus  I  was  excluded  from  their  fellowship  as 
a  heretic,  greatly  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  many  of  the 
laity,  who  judged  that  I  ought  to  have  had  a  hearing,  and 
the  right  of  self-defense.  Thus  ended  forever  my  relig- 
ious connection  with  the  Lutheran  church. 

"  You  ask  me  to  relate  some  of  my  struggles  and  priva- 
tions connected  with  this  part  of  my  history.  I  will 
answer  you  briefly :  When  this  religious  tie  was  sundered 
J  was  left  in  a  very  destitute  condition.  My  salary  at  the 
time  was  four  hundred  dollars,  which,  added  to  marriage 
fees  and  other  perquisites  came  to  near  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. My  year  was  expired  within  two  months  when  I 
came  out  from  among  them.  My  convictions  of  truth  did 
not  allow  me  to  dissemble,  and  preach,  and  practice  error 
two  months  longer  for  the  salary.  Neither  did  I  ever  re- 
ceive a  farthing  of  it,  though  it  was  collected  in  several 
of  my  congregations,  and  ready  for  delivery. 

"  I  had  thirty  acres  of  land,  less  than  half  paid  for, 
without  team  or  means  to  cultivate  it.  I  was  without 
money ;  forsaken  of  fathers  and  mothers.  But  my  friends 
did  not  all  forsake  me.  The  Lord  reserved  to  me  two 
very  wealthy  men,  members  of  the  church  from  which  I 
28 


330  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

seceded — Mr.  Brinker  and  Mr.  Switzer.  They  ever  were, 
and  they  remained,  my  warmest  friends.  My  departure 
from  their  doctrine  only  heightened  their  respect  for  me. 
They  claimed  it  was  the  strongest  evidence  of  my  candor 
and  honesty  to  leave  a  society  that  supported  its  ministers, 
and  become  identified  with  a  people  that  repudiated  sala- 
ried preachers.  They  both  lent  me  generous,  substantial 
aid,  and  remained  my  most  ardent  friends  till  their  death. 
Some  of  the  brethr  en  were  also  benefactors  to  me,  espec- 
ially George  Pow  and  A.  Campbell.  The  church  of 
Bethany  presented  me  one  hundred  dollars,  besides  some 
valuable  gifts. 

"I  preached  every  Lord's  day,  and  sometimes  during 
the  week.  The  brethren  received  me  kindly,  heard  me 
gladly,  thanked  me  heartily,  invited  me  cordially  to 
preach  for  them,  but  never  seemed  to  consider  that  I 
lived  just  like  themselves,  by  eating  and  drinking,  and 
that  my  time  was  my  only  means  of  support.  Conse- 
quently I  had  to  'dig.'  I  was  not  ashamed  to  dig;  but 
one  thing  I  plainly  discovered  and  felt  most  seriously, 
that  my  sun  had  forever  set  so  far  as  time  for  suitable 
preparation  to  hold  forth  the  word  of  life  was  concerned. 
One  of  the  congregations  agreed  to  pay  me  one  dollar  a 
visit  every  four  weeks,  or  one-fourth  of  my  time.  This 
was  ominous  of  better  times.  Another  congregation 
promised  me  fifty  dollars  for  one-fourth  of  my  time.  A 
certain  brother  and  sister,  who  always  appeared  to  have  a 
very  high  regard  for  me,  were  exceedingly  hurt  because 
Bro.  Schaeffer  was  receiving  a  salary  for  preaching.  I 
received  only  thirty-seven  dollars  of  the  amount,  and 
unwilling  to  give  further  offense,  I  never  asked  for  the 
balance. 

"Iam  glad  that  a  change  has  been  effected  in  this  par- 
ticular. Ministers  are  now  cared  for  as  justice  and  equity 
demand. 

"  In  reflecting  on  the  past  and  the  present,  my  losses 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


331 


and  privations,  I  always  come  to  the  conclusion  that  I 
was  the  gainer.  The  exchange  of  error  for  truth,  I  es- 
teem a  great  gain.  When  my  spirit  has  been  almost 
crushed,  and  my  physical  nature  almost  exhausted  by 
hard  work,  the  consideration  that  I  have  found  the  light 
of  the  gospel  has  always  revived  and  strengthened  me. 

' 1  Yours  fraternally, 
"  Deerfield,  O.,  August,  1872.         John  Schaeffer." 

The  writer  of  these  chronicles  regards  it  impor- 
tant to  present  a  correct,  if  not  an  exhaustive,  his- 
tory of  the  struggles  and  self-denials  of  the  early 
preachers  of  the  "  reformation."  Bro.  SchaerTer's 
modesty  would  not  have  permitted  him,  unsolicited, 
to  speak  of  his  own  case  as  he  has  in  the  above  com- 
munication. From  one,  learn  all.  His  story  is  not 
an  exception.  To  a  great  extent  they  all  went  to 
the  warfare  at  their  own  charges.  The  growth  of 
justice  in  this  particular  was  slow,  and  not  a  few 
were  compelled  to  abandon  the  ripened  fields  of  evan- 
gelical enterprise  by  the  stern  law  of  necessity.  It 
is  certainly  ground  of  much  regret  that  a  brother  of 
Bro.  SchaefTer's  excellent  endowments  of  mind,  man- 
ners, and  education,  a  gift  to  the  cause  while  he  was 
young,  a  fluent  speaker  in  his  native  German,  could 
not  have  been  amply  supported,  and  employed  to 
open  the  gospel  to  his  own  people,  a  work  for  which 
his  experience  was  so  good  a  preparation. 


332  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Churches  established  in  Palmyra,  Shalersville,  and  Randolph. 


HE  first  year  of  Bro.  Scott's  travels,  he  and 


-1  William  Hayden  went  together  to  Palmyra. 
There  was  no  small  stir  concerning  "this  way." 
They  came  with  the  King's  message,  and  they  pro- 
claimed it  with  authority.  In  few  places  could  so 
little  be  done  with  the  old  professors.  The  Baptist 
church,  which  existed  as  far  back  as  1818,  under  the 
charge  of  the  benevolent  Thomas  Miller,  and  which, 
in  1825  entertained  the  association,  had  lost  its  savor. 
The  religion  of  peace  was  poorly  represented.  Shame- 
ful quarrels  were  perpetuated  in  the  separation  of 
the  church  into  two  fragments,  in  which  personal 
ambition  and  family  strife  prevailed.  The  patience 
of  many  was  exhausted  with  evils  which  they  could 
not  cure,  and  they  stood  aloof  from  the  churches, 
waiting  a  better  hope  and  a  truer  gospel.  These 
messengers  of  Christ's  gospel,  not  wishing  to  identify 
their  mission  with  such  a  state  of  things,  soon  aban- 
doned all  hope  of  reconciling  these  old  professors, 
and  opened  on  new  grounds  the  claims  of  the  gospel. 
Their  boldness  and  zeal,  supported  by  the  charms  of 
music  and  the  attractions  of  eloquence  and,  still 
more,  by  the  plain,  pungent  truth  they  proclaimed, 
brought  multitudes  to  hear,  and  many  to  yield  to 
Christ.  The  conquest  was  complete,  but  it  was 
achieved  in  much  sharp  opposition.    The  piercing, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


333 


piquant  speeches  of  Scott  provoked  some  of  the 
people.  One  man,  who  had  been  on  bad  terms  with 
his  neighbors,  objected  to  Scott's  preaching,  saying : 
"I  want  to  see  more  heart  religion  in  it."  "Aye," 
said  Scott,  "  and  I  want  to  see  a  man  not  keep  all 
his  religion  in  his  heart,  but  let  some  of  it  come  out 
so  his  neighbors  can  see  it ! "  A  Methodist  lady  re- 
torted upon  him :  "  You  have  to  sing  our  songs ! " 
"  We  ought  to,  madam,"  he  replied ;  "  we  get  your 
converts ! " 

A  church  soon  arose,  formed  of  the  new  converts 
and  a  large  proportion  of  the  old  members.  Britton 
Fisher  and  IlifT  Garrison  were  appointed  the  over- 
seers of  it.  Robert  Calvin,  Marvin  Gilbert,  George 
and  Nicholas  Simons,  William  Shakspearand  E.  Fish- 
er, with  their  wives,  were  among  the  early  members. 
It  was  established  in  1828. 

They  received  help  from  the  brethren  who  founded 
the  congregation,  especially  from  William  Hayden. 
John  Henry  helped  them  much  also,  as  did  the  breth- 
ren in  Deerfield — Allerton,  Hubbard,  Finch,  Hartzel 
and  McGowan  ;  A.  B.  Green  also,  with  Brockett, 
Reeves,  and  M.  J.  Streator.  Dr.  Robison  is  remem- 
bered for  valuable  help.  In  September,  1840,  A.  B. 
Green  and  A.  S.  Hayden  conducted  a  meeting  in 
Palmyra.  A  wide  hearing  was  gained,  and  seventeen 
converts  came  in.  The  church  then  counted  a  mem- 
bership of  seventy-four  persons. 

Like  all  churches  unsupported  by  pastoral  labor, 
their  course  has  been  fluctuating.  The  lamp  has 
nearly  ceased  to  burn  at  different  times  ;  but  much 
of  the  true  salt  is  yet  to  be  found  in  the  church, 


334  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

which  to  this  present  day  meets  every  Lord's  day  to 
keep  the  ordinances  as  they  were  delivered. 

A  church  was  started  in  the  south  part  of  Pal- 
myra almost  as  early  as  that  in  the  north.  Elijah 
Canfield,  Horace  Western,  and  Andrew  Sturdevant 
were  the  leaders.  It  sustained  itself  a  number  of 
years,  but  succumbed  at  last  to  the  common  ene- 
mies of  embodied  societies — emigration,  death,  and 
neglect. 

The  Church  in  Shalersville. 

Some  time  in  the  fall  of  1828,  as  William  Hayden 
was  riding  through  Windham  he  met  Isaac  Mead. 
The  surprise  at  meeting  was  mutual.  Mead,  accost- 
ing Hayden,  said  :  "  Bro.  Hayden,  is  that  you  ? " 
"Yes,  it  is  LH  "What's  the  matter  ?  I  see  your  gar- 
ments are  wet ! "  "I  preached  back  here  last  night, 
and  a  person  coming  to  Christ,  I  have  just  been  bap- 
tizing the  convert  ;  and  having  no  opportunity  of 
changing  my  garments,  I  am  going  on  to  find  a  place 
to  preach.  Do  you  know  of  any  opening?"  "Yes, 
in  Shalersville  ;  I  am  just  from  there,  and  there  is  a 
good  opening.  Go  on,  and  call  on  Davis  Haven,  and 
tell  him  I  sent  you."  "  Good  bye,"  said  the  vigorous 
preacher,  and  applying  his  spurred  heels  to  his  horse 
he  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

Late  in  the  spring  of  1828,  Thomas  Campbell  and 
Sidney  Rigdon  had  preached  a  few  discourses  in 
Shalersville,  taught  the  people  the  way  of  life,  and 
baptized  two  young  men.  In  the  summer,  E.  Wil- 
liams delivered  a  number  of  sermons,  but  his  former 
Universalian  friends,  incensed  by  his  renunciation  of 
their  fruitless  speculations,  were  not  favorable  to  his 
message.    But  the  labors  of  these  men,  and  Scott's 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


335 


success  in  adjacent  towns,  had  opened  the  public  ear. 
So  when  Hayden  came  to  plant  the  standard  of  the 
cross  he  had  an  audience.  The  ardor  of  his  nature 
was  equal  to  his  powers.  He  double  shotted  every 
piece,  and  directed  his  artillery  against  skepticism 
and  sectarianism  ;  and  in  contrast  with  the  darkness 
of  the  one  and  the  demoralizations  of  the  other,  he 
vindicated  the  credibility  of  the  apostles  and  proph- 
ets, and  asserted  and  defended  the  rightful  claims  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  the  throne  of  the  universe. 

In  one  of  his  trips  Scott  came  with  him.  Here 
it  was  Dr.  R.  Richardson,  then  of  Pittsburgh,  seek- 
ing Scott  in  New  Lisbon,  "  to  be  baptized  of  him," 
and  not  finding  him  there,  came  and  found  his  pre- 
ceptor and  friend  in  the  midst  of  an  animated  meet- 
ing. Scott  met  him  with  great  joy,  for  his  soul  was 
toward  him  like  that  of  David  to  Jonathan.  When 
the  congratulations  were  over,  said  Scott,  aside,  to 
Hayden,  "  O,  that  the  Lord  would  give  us  that  young 
man  !"  not  yet  aware  of  the  purpose  of  his  visit.  He 
had  been  brought  up  strictly  in  the  Episcopalian  or- 
der ;  but  having  his  attention  called  by  Bro.  Scott, 
sometime  previous,  in  a  conversation  with  him  at 
Pittsburgh,  to  the  original  term  for  baptism,  his  fine 
scholarship  enabled  him  to  investigate  its  meaning  ; 
and  finding  its  current  use  in  the  Scriptures  and 
every-where  else  to  be  immersion,  he  conscientiously 
followed  the  light,  and  sought  Bro.  Scott  for  baptism 
at  his  hands.  On  going  to  the  Cuyahoga  to  baptize 
some  converts,  Richardson  made  known  his  wishes  ; 
when,  with  the  others,  he  was  buried  by  baptism  into 
the  death  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Bro.  A.  B.  Green  was  early  in  Shalersville.  The 


33^  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

brethren  in  Deerfield,  also  C.  P.  Finch,  E.  B.  Hub- 
bard, and  A.  Allerton,  helped  much  both  to  sow,  tc 
water  the  seed,  and  to  gather  the  harvest.  For  sev- 
eral years  William  Hayden,  having  planted  the  church, 
.looked  after  it  as  a  nursing  father. 

The  citizens  of  the  township  having  erected  a  good 
Town  House,  it  was  proposed  that  it  should  be  dedi- 
cated. At  the  instance  of  prominent  citizens,  Hub- 
bard and  Allerton  were  invited  to  hold  a  meeting  in 
it.  They  solicited  me  to  accompany  them.  Closing 
up  my  winter  school  Friday  night,  we  mounted  our 
horses  early  Saturday  morning,  and  at  noon  we  were 
on  the  ground.  The  meeting  was  held  three  days  ; 
and  many  heard  out  of  regard  to  the  nature  of  the 
occasion.    This  was  the  last  of  February,  1834. 

All  this  time,  and  for  years  afterward,  the  church 
had  no  settled  minister.  The  preachers  came  among 
them  frequently  ;  but  the  church,  like  most  of  the 
congregations,  had  learned  to  "edify  one  another  in 
love."  This  reliance  on  the  talent  of  the  church 
quickens  the  zeal  and  develops  the  abilities  of  the 
members ;  and  if  it  is  not  depended  on  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  preaching,  it  is  a  direct  and  powerful  means 
of  imparting  strength  and  permanency  to  the 
churches. 

At  one  of  Bro.  Green's  meetings  there  was  a  Miss 
Langworthy  among  the  converts.  The  Congrega- 
tional minister,  all  praise  for  his  zeal,  became  much 
excited  at  seeing  the  people  so  deluded  and  led  away 
into  error.  Green  had  taught  the  converts  simply  to 
believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  their  Savior,  and 
to  trust  honestly  to  his  gospel  word  of  promise,  "  he 
that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved."  This 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


337 


minister  came  in  the  crowd  to  the  meeting,  and 
knowing  Miss  Langworthy,  he  called  her  attention 
to  the  danger  of  the  error  she  was  embracing. 
"  Why,"  she  innocently  responded,  "  has  not  the  Lord 
told  us  to  come  and  be  baptized  ?"  "  O,  I  tell  you," 
said  the  minister,  "  it  is  a  most  pernicious  doctrine, 
and  you  are  exposing  yourself  to  the  danger  of  being 
damned  if  you  believe  it."  "But,  the  Savior  said  'he 
that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved  ; '  and 
now,  if  I  believe  on  him  with  all  my  heart,  and  am 
baptized,  will  he  damn  me  ? "  This  was  enough. 
The  strength  of  "orthodoxy,"  so  called,  was  weak- 
ness before  the  word  of  the  Lord.  Bro.  Green  and 
all  around  heard  the  conversation,  but  he  said  not  a 
word,  perceiving  this  child  of  mourning  and  of  joy, 
in  her  tears  and  simplicity,  was  effectually  defending 
the  faith.  The  converts  were  then  baptized  ;  they 
were  full  of  joy,  and  new  songs  were  heard  in  many 
homes. 

In  1835,  tne  yearly  meeting  for  Portage  County 
was  held  in  Shalersville,  which  increased  the  number 
of  converts,  and  imparted  strength  to  the  church. 
Again,  in  1837,  t^e  churches  of  the  county  came  up 
here  to  hold  their  annual  convocation.  It  was  a  large 
and  impressive  meeting.  Many  public  advocates  of 
the  gospel  attended  it.  Both  the  Town  Hall  and 
the  Congregational  church  were  filled  to  overflowing 
on  the  Lord's  day. 

In  February,  1843,  Harvey  Brockett,  by  invitation 
of  the  elders,  Milo  Hoskins  and  Davis  Haven,  came 
to  Shalersville.  There  was  a  great  shaking  among 
the  people.  Brockett's  earnest  and  persuasive  elo- 
quence, with  his  instructive  exhibitions  of  the  gospel, 
29 


338 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


enlightened  many  and  brought  them  to  Christ.  An 
event  occurred  in  the  midst  of  this  meeting,  which 
brought  out  the  whole  town  to  hear.  It  was  the 
death  of  William  Coolman,  Esq.  This  gentleman, 
unpretentious,  well  educated,  and  kind-hearted,  was 
deservedly  held  in  high  esteem.  His  residence  was 
also  the  home  of  his  widowed  daughter,  the  excellent 
mother  of  Bro.  C.  C.  Foot.  Brockett's  sermon  at  the 
funeral  of  Bro.  Coolman  was  all  aflame  with  light 
on  the  resurrection  and  eternal  judgment.  Many 
towering  imaginations  were  brought  low,  and  many 
hearts  were  humbled.  The  seeds  of  this  sowing 
came  up  for  reaping  in  many  subsequent  harvests. 

From  this  place  Bro.  Brockett  went  to  Ravenna 
two  weeks.  Additions  followed  his  labors  there. 
He  returned  to  Shalersville  for  one  week.  Exhausted 
and  obliged  to  leave,  Bro.  M.  L.  Wilcox  came  in  and 
finished  up  this  extraordinary  series  of  successes. 

Eighteen  months  afterward,  February,  1845,  Brock- 
ett responded  to  the  urgent  calls  of  the  people,  and 
conducted  another  meeting.  Among  the  souls 
brought  into  the  kingdom  at  this  time,  was  the  youth- 
ful Charles  Coolman  Foot.  He  soon  manifested  in- 
clinations for  the  ministry.  Availing  himself  of  all 
the  means  of  education  and  spiritual  improvement 
within  his  reach,  his  "profiting"  began  to  be  appar- 
ent to  the  church.  He  persevered  in  his  prepara- 
tions, and  has  become  extensively  useful  in  the 
gospel. 

Bro.  T.  J.  Newcomb  grew  up  into  religious  activity 
in  this  church.  He  confessed  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
turned  his  talents  to  build  up  his  cause  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


339 


In  the  year  1849,  Bro.  W.  A.  Belding  began  his 
labors  in  this  church.  It  was  much  reduced,  and  the 
fine  gold  had  become  dim.  He  immediately  began 
to  "  revive'  the  spirit  of  the  contrite  ones."  His 
practical  addresses,  enforced  by  an  assuring  confi- 
dence of  the  value  of  Christianity,  by  a  cheerful 
manner,  and  many  a  sweet,  enrapturing  song,  soon 
brought  about  a  reformation.  The  house  was  filled 
once  more.  Many  wanderers  were  brought  back  to 
the  fold,  and  conversions  were  again  frequent.  Dur- 
ing the  seven  years  of  his  residence  in  Shalersville, 
there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  additions. 

Bro.  Belding's  labors  have  been  very  abundant  and 
successful.  He  was  sometime  in  Mentor,  where  the 
church  was  greatly  enlarged ;  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-seven souls  being  added  in  eighteen  months. 
In  many  other  places  he  has  a  grateful  remembrance 
among  the  people.  He  is  the  youngest  son  of  the 
late  Dr.  Rufus  Belding,  of  Randolph  ;  a  gentleman 
of  rare  excellence,  serenity,  and  dignity  of  character. 

The  church  in  Shalersville  was  long  under  the 
counsels  and  management  of  Milo  Hoskins,  Davis 
Haven,  and  Isaac  Mead,  as  overseers  ;  of  E.  B.  Chapin, 
James  Coit,  Decalvus  Root,  John  Haven,  Chester 
Cooley  and  others,  as  servants  of  the  congregation. 
From  this  community  emigration  has  carried  the 
message  of  life,  and  built  up  in  other  counties  and 
other  States  the  cause  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
The  Cooleys,  the  Havens,  the  Nicholls  and  Streators, 
in  North  Eaton,  early  lifted  the  standard,  and  they 
have,  with  the  blessings  of  God  upon  them,  estab- 
lished a  church  which  is  now  one  of  the  strongest 
on  the  Western  Reserve.    Some  of  the  same  fami- 


340  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

lies  are  in  Bloomingdale,  Mich.,  with  a  good  house  of 
worship,  and  a  faithful  and  united  brotherhood  in 
Christ. 

Randolph. 

Deacon  William  Churchill  moved  into  Randolph 
from  the  State  of  Connecticut  in  1812.  He  died  in 
that  town  August  30,  1846,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
81  years. 

In  1 8 19,  he,  with  others,  constituted  a  small  Bap- 
tist church  in  Randolph,  of  which  he  was  both  dea- 
con and  clerk.  When  the  11  Christian  Baptist"  made 
its  appearance  Churchill  obtained  it,  and  the  new 
light  it  shed  on  gospel  themes  was  welcomed  by  this 
inquiring  community  of  believers.  They  had  come 
together  under  the  name  of  Baptist,  but  their  single 
aim  was  to  be  only  Christians,  and  to  be  led  only  by 
the  revealed  will  of  God.  This  membership  was  the 
basis  and  the  beginning  of  the  large  and  flourishing 
church  from  which,  for  forty-five  years,  has  radiated 
the  light  of  the  gospel.  The  church  was  formed  on 
New  Testament  principles,  July  20,  1828.  The  rec- 
ord reads  as  follows  :  "  On  this  day  came  forward  the 
baptized  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  and  ac- 
knowledged him  to  be  their  only  Teacher  and  Law- 
giver, and  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  their  only  guide, 
and  agreed  to  maintain  Christian  worship  according 
to  the  aforesaid  declaration." 

The  following  names  composed  the  new  congrega- 
tion. All  were  previously  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  viz.  : 

William  and  Polly  Churchill,  Philo  and  Rosanna 
Beach,  Calvin  and  Polly  Rawson,  Elisha  and  Sophia 
Ward,  Bela  Hubbard  and  Levi  Huggins.  William 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


341 


Churchill  and  Calvin  Ravvson  were  appointed  dea- 
cons. C.  P.  Finch,  E.  B.  Hubbard  and  Samuel  Mc- 
Govvan  were  present  and  "gave  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship." 

Bro.  Amos  Allerton,  also  of  Deerfield,  was  an 
early  and  able  advocate  of  the  gospel  in  Randolph, 
contributing  much  to  the  growth  of  the  body.  In- 
deed, the  church  of  Randolph  was  fostered  by  that 
in  Deerfield,  as  in  turn  the  one  in  Randolph  became 
the  mother  of  those  in  Mogadore,  New  Baltimore, 
Suffield  and  Rootstown.  The  latter  two  have  dis- 
solved. The  others  have  never  failed  to  meet,  and 
have  generally  flourished. 

Early  in  their  history,  William  Churchill  was 
elected  to  fill  the  office  of  overseer,  and  Elisha  Ward 
was  appointed  deacon.  The  first  meeting-house  was 
erected  in  1830,  and  finished  in  1832. 

Although  the  trumpet  call  to  religious  reforma- 
tion and  return  to  the  Jerusalem  model  of  the  church, 
had  been  sounding  only  four  or  five  years,  it  had 
spread  far  abroad,  and  was  echoed  by  hundreds  of 
willing  tongues.  New  churches  were  starting  up  in 
many  quarters,  and  old  ones  were  throwing  aside 
their  creeds  and  adopting  the  New  Testament  as 
their  only  guide.  The  Disciples  all  looked  to  the 
yearly  meeting  as  the  means  of  social  and  religious 
union,  like  as  the  great  festivals  of  the  Jews,  even 
more  than  the  uniformity  of  their  rites  and  ritual, 
cemented  their  nationality.  Those  great  anniversa- 
ries, by  the  acquaintances  formed  and  the  consequent 
interest  they  awakened  in  one  another,  became  a  real 
and  lasting  bond  of  union  among  the  advocates  of 
the  "  ancient  order  of  things." 


342  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


To  Randolph  all  eyes  were  directed  this  year 
(1832),  for  here,  the  last  of  August,  was  to  be  the 
annual  gathering.  For  the  first  time  in  seven  years, 
Mr.  Campbell  was  not  present.  But  the  strength 
and  hope  of  this  cause  was  in  its  divinity  and  truth- 
fulness, not  in  man.  There  was  no  diminution  in 
numbers,  nor  enthusiasm.  The  freshness,  ardor,  and 
simplicity  of  the  meetings  in  those  days  was  beauti- 
ful to  behold.  Here  assembled  "  the  disciples,"  all 
on  an  equality,  many  of  them  the  recruits  of  the  past 
year,  for  edification,  for  fellowship  in  Christ,  and 
for  increase  of  their  animating  hopes. 

The  following  public  speakers  were  present :  Sy- 
monds  Ryder,  William  Hayden,  Marcus  Bosworth, 
Amos  Allerton,  E.  Williams,  E.  B.  Hubbard,  C.  P. 
Finch,  Jonas  Hartzel,  John  Henry,  J.  J.  Moss,  A.  P. 
Jones,  A.  B.  Green,  John  Applegate,  A.  S.  Hayden 
and  Eli  Regal  ;  some  of  whom  were  only  beginning 
the  work  of  preaching. 

The  following  report  of  this  meeting  will  be  read 
with  interest : 

Streetsborough,  Portage  Co.,  O.,  Aug.  28, 1832. 
Dear  Bro.  Campbell: 

Our  general  meeting  closed  yesterday.  Such  love,  such 
union,  not  of  opinion,  but  of  faith  and  Christian  feeling, 
zeal  and  intelligence,  I  never  saw  but  among  the  disciples 
of  the  ancient  mold. 

We  met  on  Friday,  at  1  o'clock  P.  M. ;  and  though 
disappointed  by  not  seeing  you,  we  proceeded  to  do  as 
well  as  we  could.  Bro.  Bosworth  gave  the  first  discourse, 
and  seven  or  eight  other  brethren  spoke  during  the  meet- 
ing in  daylight.  Preaching  in  four  or  five  places  each 
evening. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


343 


On  Lord's  day,  Bro.  Ryder  gave  us  a  masterly  dis- 
course from  the  second  chapter  of  ist  Timothy.  His 
first  effort  was  to  show  the  fallacy  of  Universalism  j  2nd, 
of  Calvinism.  In  the  third  place,  an  exhortation  to 
prayer;  and,  finally,  female  character  and  influence  as 
Christians — and  why?  That  as  the  woman  was  the  first 
in  sin,  and  has  ever  since  been  oppressed  by  the  man  ; 
that  as  the  female  was  by  Christianity  raised  and  honored 
with  the  place,  privileges  and  influence  which  naturally 
and  originally  belong  to  her,  it,  by  all  reasons,  behooves 
the  sex  to  honor  Christianity  in  turn  by  showing  all  con- 
tempt for  the  trifles  which  charm  the  eyes  of  the  vain  and 
the  irreligious ;  that  they  should  de*light  to  honor  the  gospel 
with  a  display  of  benevolence,  rather  than  of  dress. 

He  succeeded  in  every  point  to  the  great  satisfaction  of 
all  the  disciples,  especially  the  sisters.  The  discourse  was 
followed  by  appropriate  exhortations;  and,  in  short,  the 
whole  day  was  filled  up  with  much  valuable  instruction. 
Nineteen  were  immersed  during  the  three  days.  On  Mon- 
day our  time  was  devoted  to  hearing  the  reports  of  the 
itinerants,  and  making  arrangements  for  future  operations. 
This  was  the  most  interesting  day  of  any,  and  probably 
more  profitable  for  the  interest  of  truth  than  all  the  rest 
together. 

It  appeared  from  the  reports,  which,  from  personal 
knowledge  I  know  to  be  correct,  that  the  apostolic  gospel 
and  order  of  things  are  gradually  and  regularly  gaining 
influence  among  us ;  and,  although  in  many  things  we  are 
quite  in  the  rear  of  Christian  perfection,  yet  one  good 
sign  is  that  all  see  it,  and  all  unitedly  urge  an  advance. 
The  present  reformation  is  in  this  different  from  all  the 
Protestant  reformations,  whose  leaders,  when  they  had 
taken  a  few  steps  from  their  former  ground,  halted,  and 
determined  the  people  of  God  should  learn  and  do  no 
more  of  the  Lord's  will  than  they  had  already  attained  to. 
The  teaching  brethren  understood  Christianity  better. 


344  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Public  opinion  is  turning  rapidly  in  favor  of  the  ancient 
gospel  and  order ;  and  I  think  there  is  a  growing  liberality 
among  the  brethren. 

The  subject  of  itinerancy  was  spoken  of  with  warmth 
and  an  unanimity  of  judgment  and  feeling  never  before 
equaled  among  us.  The  whole  community,  teachers  and 
taught,  were  much  affected  with  the  great  responsibility 
we  are  under  to  present  to  the  world  the  ancient  religion 
of  Christ.  It  was  proposed  the  itinerants  should  go  two 
and  two ;  but  when  we  beat  for  volunteers,  it  was  found 
there  were  but  two  whose  circumstances  would  permit 
them  at  present  to  make  it  their  sole  employ  to  proclaim 
the  word.  These  two,  Bro.  Moss  and  myself,  are  to  go 
together  wherever  a  door  opens  and  labor  is  most  needed, 
and  not  to  neglect  the  churches.  The  brethren  and  sis- 
ters most  honorably  signified  their  approbation  of  these 
laborers,  and  gave  good  evidence  of  their  readiness  to  assist 
them  in  all  things  necessary.  Besides  these  two,  brethren 
Allerton,  Williams,  Henry,  Hartzel,  Bosworth  and  Apple- 
gate,  expressed  themselves  willing  and  able  to  devote  a 
share  of  their  time — some  of  them  the  greater  part ;  and 
from  their  known  gifts,  were  assured  by  the  disciples 
present  of  their  willingness  to  sustain  them.  After  these 
matters  were  dispensed  with,  an  invitation  was  tendered 
to  any  who  wished  to  obey  the  Lord,  when  six  or  seven 
came  forward.  We  went  to  the  water,  and  continued  in- 
structing and  exhorting  until  eighteen  were  immersed, 
making  in  all  thirty-seven. 

Yours,  as  ever, 

William  Hayden. 

Among  the  converts  at  this  meeting  was  Bro. 
W.  A.  Belding,  who  has  since  become  widely  known 
as  an  able  minister  of  the  gospel. 

For  many  years  this  church  moved  on  in  great 
harmony,  receiving  increase  of  members  almost  con- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


345 


stantly.  In  1845,  the  withering  blight  of  "  Come- 
outerism "  fell  upon  it,  causing  alienations,  dissen- 
sion, and  division.  Its  advocates  were  infidels. 
While  pleading  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  and  for 
temperance,  they  hurled  their  deadliest  daggers  at 
the  churches  and  gloried  in  the  demolition  of  the 
organized  Christianity  of  the  land.  Many  excellent 
men  were  caught  in  their  snare.  Many  here  and 
elsewhere  went  out  with  them.  This  wild  impulse 
became  a  sore  trial  to  the  faith  and  patience  of  the 
churches.  Brethren  Moss,  Perky,  and  others  came 
to  the  defense  of  the  congregations.  They  met  the 
fiercest  advocates  boldly  in  debate,  and  mended  the 
breaches  these  assailants  had  made  in  the  walls. 
Most  of  the  disciples  who  were  shaken  for  a  time, 
returned  into  peace  and  order. 

Since  that  period  the  church,  like  a  well-manned 
ship,  has  held  steadily  to  its  course.  It  outgrew  its 
discouragements  in  a  few  years,  and  established  itself 
more  firmly  than  ever.  In  1860,  the  brethren  built, 
at  the  center  of  the  town,  a  new  and  much  better 
house  of  worship.  In  1 871 ,  the  record  showed  sixty- 
two  members.  In  the  winter  of  that  year,  there  was 
a  great  ingathering,  under  the  labors  of  Bro.  F.  M. 
Green ;  within  a  few  weeks  sixty-seven  were  con- 
verted, forty-one  of  whom  were  heads  of  families. 
Bro.  W.  H.  Bettes  is  now  the  overseer. 

This  church  owes  much  to  the  prompt,  manly  zeal 
of  Bro.  Bela  Hubbard,  who,  with  his  family,  gave  no 
uncertain  support  to  the  cause  at  the  start.  Also, 
the  families  of  the  Churchills,  the  Rawsons,  the 
Wards,  the  Beldings  and  many  others,  hold  a  high 
place  in  the  grateful  memory  of  the  people. 


346  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


The  Churches  in  North  Perry,  Painesville,  and  Eagleville. 

^HE  church  of  Christ  in  Perry  was  organized  by 


J-  S.  Rigdon,  August  7,  1829.  It  had  twenty- 
seven  members  ;  among  whom  were  Ebenezer  Joy 
and  his  wife,  David  and  Eliza  Parmly,  Sam'l  W.  and 
Lovinia  S.  Parmly,  Ansel  and  Desire  Ryder,  John 
Brooks,  Ezra  Isham,  Orvis  and  Rufus  Call,  Clinton 
and  Sottle  Butler,  Leonard,  Bradbury  and  Sallie 
Sinclair,  Lydia  Wood,  and  Deborah  Bacon. 

There  was  soon  a  large  increase  of  members,  em- 
bracing the   following   and  other   names :  David 

Dodge,  Rufus    Neff,    Rose,  Shubal  Lincoln, 

Elisha  Colton,  Levi  S.  and  Eliza  Parmly,  Eleazor 
and  Ann  M.  Parmly,  Lewis,  Lewis  B.  Levi,  S.  and 
Otis  M.  Wood,  with  the  families  of  Sinclair  and  Call. 

Among  the  causes  which  brought  the  reformation 
into  the  Baptist  church  in  Perry,  was  the  liberty 
taken  by  one  of  its  members  to  "commune"  with 
Christians  who  were  not  of  their  "faith  and  order;" 
though  they  were  "  baptized  believers,"  in  the  Bap- 
tist sense  of  that  term.  David  Parmly,  a  correct  and 
zealous  Baptist,  having  heard  of  the  great  revival  in 
Mentor,  went  over  from  Perry  to  hear  the  advocates 
of  the  "  new "  doctrine,  as  it  was  called.  Pleased 
with  the  preaching,  and  finding  the  spirit  of  the 
Lord  among  them,  he  ventured  to  "commune"  with 
the  Disciples. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


347 


News  of  this  act  came  quickly  to  Perry.  It  was 
too  much  ;  David  Parmly  was  an  offender,  and  a  "  la- 
bor" was  taken  up  with  him.  Bro.  Parmly  plead 
his  right  as  a  free  man  in  the  Lord,  to  hold  Chris- 
tian fellowship  with  brethren  who  are  believers  in 
Christ,  and  who,  as  well  as  themselves  had  been 
"buried  by  baptism  into  his  death."  His  plea  was 
of  no  avail.  A  church  meeting  was  called  to  try  him 
on  the  following  charge  of  heresy  :  "  Bro.  Parmly  is 
charged  with  communing  with  the  Campbellites,  and 
believing  in  the  doctrines  of  Alexander  Campbell. ' 
He  admitted  the  act  of  communing  with  ChristV 
people,  and  that  he  believed  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  all 
he  teaches  in  his  word,  and  declared  his  willingness 
to  be  subject  to  his  brethren  in  all  things,  only  "  in 
the  Lord."  No  defense  was  admitted.  This  warm- 
hearted Christian  of  unblemished  reputation,  was 
declared  guilty  of  the  charge  of  "  heresy."  While 
the  trial  was  proceeding  Parmly  asked  to  read,  with- 
out remark,  a  few  portions  of  the  word  of  God.  This 
was  refused.  When  the  act  of  exclusion  was  accom- 
plished, he  walked  out  of  the  house,  Bible  in  hand, 
and  taking  his  position  under  the  shade  of  a  goodly 
tree,  he  read  the  word  of  life  to  many  people,  who 
followed  him  with  .eager  interest. 

The  exclusion  of  Parmly  hastened  matters  to  a 
crisis.  Rigdon  soon  was  there,  and  a  church  was 
formed,  bringing  into  it  a  large  number  of  the  Bap- 
tist members,  who  saw  too  clearly  the  spirit  of  the 
inquisition,  in  the  exclusion  of  an  upright  Christian 
man  for  no  other  crime  than  holding  fellowship  with 
the  people  of  God. 

Before  the  organization  of  the  church,  the  five 


348  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Parmlys — David,  Levi,  Eleazor,  Jehiel,  and  Samuel 
W. — erected  a  comfortable  meeting-house  on  the  lake 
shore,  which  was  afterward  moved  to  the  place  where 
it  now  stands,  and  formally  opened  for  worship, 
August  22,  1 84 1,  at  which  time  the  church  was  re- 
organized with  David  Parmly,  Asa  S.  Turney,  and 
Lewis  Wood,  overseers ;  and  Jehiel  Parmly  and  Otis 
M.  Wood,  deacons.    It  counted  about  fifty  members. 

In  December  8,  1850,  the  brethren  who  had  been 
meeting  on  the  M  Dock  Road,"  in  Madison,  united 
with  the  church  in  Perry,  which  swelled  the  number 
to  about  one  hundred. 

During  many  years  of  its  earlier  history  this 
church  had  the  labors  of  all  the  earlier  preachers. 
A  little  later  came  Jones  and  Green.  But  Bro.  Clapp 
stood  by  them  as  a  chief  dependence,  and  Bro.  Violl 
also.  Rodney  Veits  and  Abram  Saunders,  espec- 
ially the  former,  preached  much  there.  For  two 
years  they  located  among  them  Edward  H.  Webb, 
from  Huron  County.  This  noble  young  brother, 
possessed  of  many  promising  gifts,  went  to  his  re- 
ward early  in  life,  just  as  he  was  ripening  into  ex- 
tensive usefulness.  Bro.  Turney  stood  by  them 
many  years  as  a  leader  and  counselor. 

This  church  has  maintained  an  unbroken  testi- 
mony for  a  period  of  over  forty-five  years.  Her 
later  history,  like  her  beginning,  has  been  marked 
by  joyful  ingatherings  of  souls  into  Christ's  king- 
dom. A  meeting,  conducted  by  Bro.  W.  A.  Belding, 
in  1855,  resulted  in  many  conversions.  Afterward 
Bro.  John  Encell  and  M.  S.  Clapp  brought  a  large 
number  into  the  faith.  Bro.  R.  G.  White,  five  years 
their  efficient  pastor,  will  long  be  held  in  grateful  re- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


349 


membrance.  Bro.  W.  0.  Moore  succeeded  him  as 
minister  in  the  church. 

Painesville. 

This  town  felt  the  impulse  of  the  great  movement 
which  began  in  Mentor  early  in  1828.  A.  P.  Jones, 
a  young  man  then  in  the  printing  office,  heard  to 
profit,  turned  to  Christ,  and  became  extensively  use- 
ful. This  beginning  was  followed  up  by  brethren 
Clapp,  Collins,  Hayden,  and  Moss,  who  occasionally 
preached  in  this  town.  A  "meeting  of  days"  was 
conducted  in  the  village  by  Wm.  Hayden  and  his 
brother,  in  November,  1842.  A  few  converts  were 
gained  at  that  time,  as  there  had  been  by  others  be- 
fore. Bro.  Joseph  Curtis,  moving  with  his  upright 
family  into  the  environs  of  that  thriving  town,  a  more 
formal  occupancy  of  the  ground  was  decided  upon. 
A  meeting  was  held  in  the  month  of  January,  1843, 
by  E.  Williams  and  Abram  Saunders,  of  Saybrook  ; 
and  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  that  month,  under  the 
counsels  of  these  brethren,  the  church  was  estab- 
lished. As  overseers,  brethren  Joseph  Curtis  and 
William  Harrison  were  unanimously  selected ;  as 
deacons,  Thomas  Smith  and  Lyman  Durand.  There 
were  thirty-six  members. 

From  the  beginning  the  church  has  maintained  a 
uniform  and  consistent  policy.  Brethren  Williams, 
Clapp,  Collins,  and  Violl  aided  to  keep  the  fires  burn- 
ing on  the  altar.  Protracted  meetings  have  enlarged 
their  borders  from  time  to  time,  conducted  by  W. 
Hayden,  Isaac  Errett,  J.  Encell,  H.  W.  Everest,  K. 
Shaw,  and  others.  As  pastors,  Bro.  E.  H.  Hawley 
served  them  from  1855  to  1859.    Bro.  John  Encel) 


35o 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


settled  with  them  about  two  years,  followed  by  his 
brother,  James  G.  Encell.  After  these,  Bro.  L. 
Cooley  about  three  years,  closing  in  1866.  Then 
came  Bro.  J.  B.  Knowles.  Bro.  L.  F.  Bittle  labored 
there  from  1868  till  1870,  when  they  secured  Bro. 
J.  W.  Ingram  for  three  years.  Bro.  F.  H.  Moore, 
the  present  pastor,  began  in  1873. 

With  all  encroachments  on  their  numbers  they 
still  have  about  one  hundred  and  eighty.  The  church 
was  incorporated  in  185 1,  and  their  present  comfort- 
able meeting-house,  in  a  very  good  site,  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1853,  Bro. 
Collins  officiating  on  the  occasion. 

This  church  has  mourned  the  loss  of  some  of  her 
noblest  men :  Her  first  elder,  whose  enterprise  con- 
tributed much  to  found  the  church,  Bro.  Curtis ; 
and  more  recently  the  first  deacon,  the  lamented  and 
upright  Lyman  Durand ;  Bro.  Tuttle  likewise,  one 
of  the  oldest  members,  sleeps  in  the  hope.  And  the 
venerable  brother,  Jehiel  Parmly,  full  of  days  and 
hope. 

With  the  Parmlys,  A.  Teachout,  Dr.  Stebbins,  Dr. 
Pancoast,  and  the  others  who  stand  with  them,  the 
church  has  a  fast  hold  on  society. 

Eagleville. 

This  church  came  into  existence  amidst  a  "great 
fight  of  afflictions."  Here,  as  in  many  other  places, 
the  cardinal  principle  of  Protestantism,  the  right  of 
private  judgment,  was  the  ground  of  the  agitation 
which  resulted  in  the  dismemberment  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  the  formation  of  a  religious  community 
on  New  Testament  principles. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


351 


As  early  as  1825-6,  the  "Christian  Baptist"  had 
many  readers  and  many  admirers  in  that  Baptist 
community.  But  toleration  toward  it  was  of  short 
duration.  The  pastor,  Silas  Barnes,  a  man  of  narrow 
views,  supported  by  others  equally  opposed  to  prog- 
ress in  religious  light,  determined  to  purge  the 
church  of  this  leaven. 

On  the  2 1  st  of  January,  1833,  members  of  the 
Baptist  church  met  to  consult  on  the  dangers  to  be 
feared  from  the  new  doctrines,  and  to  devise  meth- 
ods to  remove  the  evi].  For  six  months  or  more 
the  church  had  innumerable  "covenant"  meetings, 
church  meetings,  and  councils.  Sometimes  they 
met  three  times  a  week.  Early  in  the  course  of  the 
proceedings  the  following  resolution  was  passed : 
M  Resolved,  That  we  do  not  fellowship  the  doctrines 
and  sentiments  published  and  advocated  by  Alexander 
Campbell  and  his  associates.  Neither  will  we  fellow- 
ship as  members  in  our  church  those  who  patronize 
or  make  a  practice  of  reading  his  periodical  publica- 
tions, or  those  who  are  in  any  way  trammeled  with 
his  doctrines  or  his  sentiments." 

The  church,  having  passed  a  law  to  fit  the  assumed 
case,  a  law  conveniently  vague,  was  now  prepared  for 
victims.  John  D.  Foot  was  cut  asunder  with  the  long 
knife  of  excommunication.  Martin  Mills  was  next 
cited  ;  but  he  returned  such  answers  to  the  commit- 
tee, that  the  church  forgave  his  temerity,  and  re- 
moved from  him  her  censures. 

Not  so  the  chief  offender.  This  was  Bro.  Eben  A. 
Mills.  He  was  a  man  of  good  abilities,  firm,  earnest 
in  his  purposes,  of  quick  and  correct  discernment, 
and  a  devoted  Bible  student.    He  was  the  quartz,  with 


352  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

pure  gold  in  every  vein.  With  a  Christian  wife, 
morally  and  intellectually  his  equal,  both  blessed 
with  admirable  good  nature,  he  carried  public  sym- 
pathy with  him  in  the  trying  difficulties  through 
which  he  was  about  to  pass.  He  sought  no  rupture 
in  the  church.  A  sincere  adherent  of  the  "  faith  and 
order  "  of  the  Baptists,  he  contributed  more  by  his 
zeal  and  tireless  activity  to  build  up  that  "  Zion  "  than 
any  other  private  member.  As  clerk  of  the  church, 
he  had  charge  of  her  records.  Devoted  to  music  and 
an  adept  in  that  charming  accomplishment,  he  and 
Mrs.  Mills  seemed  inseparable  from  the  life  of  the 
church.  But  "orthodoxy"  had  no  mercy,  and  quite 
as  little  wisdom  ;  and  it  came  to  Mr.  Mills  requiring 
him  to  desist  reading  Mr.  Campbell's  "Millennial 
Harbinger,"  to  put  away  the  new  translation,  and 
abjure  the  alleged  heresies. 

He  plead:  i.  His  liberties  as  a  Christian  to 
"  prove  all  things  "  by  the  infallible  standard  of  the 
Word  of  God,  and  to  "  hold  fast  that  which  was 
good  ; "  and  2.  His  rights  and  liberties  as  an  Amer- 
ican citizen  to  the  unmolested  use  of  all  things  which 
tended  to  the  injury  of  no  one,  or  the  restraint  of 
no  other  person's  privileges. 

It  is  needless  to  detail  all  the  proceedings  which 
make  this  a  marked  case.  It  was  prolonged  till  the 
church  almost  to  a  man  had  become  enlisted.  No 
charge  was  hinted  against  the  character  of  Mr.  Mills. 
It  was  a  case,  pure  and  simple,  of  creed — orthodoxy 
in  array  against  liberty  of  conscience.  The  following 
note  of  his  exclusion  is  copied  from  the  church 
record:  "March  2,  1833.  It  was  then  motioned 
and  seconded  that,  as  Bro.  E.  A.  Mills  will  not  con- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


353 


sent  to  abandon  the  reading  of  Mr.  Campbell's 
4  Millennial  Harbinger,'  which  we  think  is  leading 
him  from  the  gospel  and  the  faith  of  the  regular  Bap- 
tists, we  withdraw  from  him  the  hand  of  fellowship. 
The  vote  was  then  tried  and  carried  by  a  consider- 
able majority.  The  office  of  clerk  being  now  va- 
cant, Cornelius  Udall  was  unanimously  chosen  clerk." 

The  new  clerk,  some  time  afterward,  embraced  the 
sentiments  for  which  Mills  was  excluded.  But  he 
suffered  less  persecution — a  new  class  of  men  having 
come  into  power. 

Pending  the  motion  for  the  exclusion  of  Mills,  he 
made  a  most  manly  appeal,  and  an  able  defense  of 
Mr.  Campbell  and  his  work.  It  was  printed  and  cir- 
culated, but  it  could  not  avert  the  premeditated  blow. 

This  act  of  exclusion  was  a  heavy  stroke  to  many 
of  the  members.  A  remonstrance  was  prepared  and 
sent  in  to  the  church,  signed  by  eighteen  names.  It 
was  mild  and  respectful  ;  yet,  strange  to  say,  it  was 
the  death-knell  of  every  one  of  them.  They  were 
all,  without  exception,  and  without  any  other  offense, 
excluded  from  the  church. 

This  declaration  of  exclusion  was  signed  by  nine 
names,  and  was  silently  acquiesced  in  as  the  action 
of  the  church  without  approval  or  demur.  Thus  nine 
members  excluded  eighteen,  the  number  who  had 
signed  the  remonstrance ;  the  rest  of  the  church, 
eighty  members,  taking  no  active  or  recorded  part 
in  the  proceedings. 

These  rejected  members,  cast  down,  but  not  for- 
saken, could  not  let  the  light  within  them  become 
darkness.  Hearing  of  a  church  in  Mentor,  meeting 
just  as  the  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 


354  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


they  sent  an  invitation  for  a  man  to  visit  them.  Bro. 
M.  S.  Clapp  came,  preached,  and  organized  a  church 
of  seven  members,  with  Bro.  E.  A.  Mills,  elder,  or 
bishop,  and  Michael  Webster,  deacon.  This  took 
place  October  5,  1833.  Bro.  Webster  was  soon  as- 
sociated as  overseer.  A.  J.  Hall  and  Alfred  Mills 
were  chosen  deacons. 

Thus  originated  the  church  of  Christ  in  Eagleville, 
which  for  forty  years  has  continued  to  hold  the 
ground  under  great  discouragements,  and  to  send 
forth  the  light  of  the  gospel  into  other  towns  in  Ash- 
tabula County. 

The  preachers  for  the  first  few  years  were  Alton, 
Saunders,  Collins,  Hayden,  Henry,  Hartzell,  Clapp, 
Brockett,  Smith,  and  others.  But  Bro.  Mills  was 
their  reliance  for  years,  in  the  absence  of  other  aid. 
He  preached,  sung,  visited,  and  entertained  the 
preachers  who  visited  them.  His  hospitality  was 
unstinted.  He  paid  freely  to  sustain  the  cause  in  all 
things ;  was  an  example  to  the  flock,  till  broken  in 
health,  and  partly  in  fortune,  he  went  West,  and 
ended  his  days  in  the  unfading  hope  of  immortality. 

Bro.  Jacob  Bartholomew  was  called  to  preach  for 
them  in  1846.  For  many  years  he  has  been  the  min- 
ister of  the  word  among  them. 


IN   THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


355 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Church  in  Middlebury  and  Akron — A  Church  arises  in  Moga- 
dore — In  Wadsworth  also,  with  Sketches  of  Elder  O.  Newcomb 
and  A.  B.  Green. 

IN  August,  1829,  E.  B.  Hubbard  and  Wm.  Hay- 
den  delivered  a  few  discourses  in  Middlebury. 
Some  of  the  people  were  so  much  interested  they 
desired  to  hear  them  more  fully,  and  when  they  de- 
parted, Levi  Allen  and  William  Pangburn  went  with 
them  to  Mogadore.  The  good  seed  had  fallen  into 
good  ground.  The  next  month  Bro.  Hayden  re- 
turned, when  Levi  Allen  and  Mrs.  Pangburn  became 
obedient  to  the  faith.  Some  time  previous  to  this, 
Mr.  Wm.  Pangburn  and  Mrs.  Judge  Sumner  had 
been  baptized  by  Elder  Newcomb.  February,  1830, 
Bro.  Marcus  Bosworth  came  :  others  now  yielded  in 
obedience.  Williams  visited  these  old  battlerfields, 
where,  in  former  days,  in  the  defense  of  Restoration- 
ism  he  had  driven  Calvinism  to  the  wall.  In  the 
advocacy  now  of  something  better  than  human  theo- 
ries, he  desired  to  lead  the  people  to  the  Lord  Jesus. 

About  this  time  Tillinghast  Vaughan,  a  young 
Methodist  preacher  of  considerable  ability,  falling  in 
with  Mr.  Campbell  in  Virginia,  was  baptized  by  him, 
and  returned  to  the  Western  Reserve.  He  preached 
in  Middlebury  about  a  year.  But  he  forsook  the 
faith,  and  embraced  some  scheme  of  Universalian 
skepticism,  and  drew  away  a  number  from  the  gos- 


356  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

pel.  Vaughan's  defection  disheartened  many ;  yet 
though  cast  down  the  cause  was  not  destroyed.  The 
well  instructed  disciples  never  wavered,  nor  for  an 
hour  doubted  the  triumphs  of  the  scriptural  princi- 
ples they  had  embraced.  Bro.  A.  B.  Green  was 
often  with  them,  whose  clear  presentations  of  the 
gospel  aided  in  building  up  confidence.  Bro.  M.  L. 
Wilcox  moved  into  Middlebury,  and  while  "  working 
with  his  own  hands,"  he  also  gave  a  strong  impulse 
to  the  struggling  cause  by  his  able  and  eloquent 
defense  of  it.  A  litigious  preacher  of  the  M.  E. 
church,  by  the  name  of  Thomas  Graham,  sought  a 
discussion  with  Wilcox.  The  young  mechanic 
shrunk  not  from  this  public  appeal  to  defend  the 
faith.  The  preacher  plumed  himself  in  high  feather, 
expecting  certain  victory,  and  to  gain  the  coveted 
mead  of  public  applause  for  crushing  the  noxious 
heresy,  as  he  assumed  to  call  the  ancient  gospel. 
But  "  the  race  was  not  to  the  swift,  nor  the  battle 
to  the  strong."  Wilcox  was  panoplied  in  the  armor 
of  light.  He  brought  such  a  compact  array  of  Bible 
truth,  enforced  with  an  argumentative  eloquence  and 
brilliant  original  wit,  against  his  clerical  assailant  as 
to  compel  him  to  forsake  the  line  of  serious  investi- 
gation, and  resort  to  ridicule.  Rising  in  full  figure, 
in  his  dignity  he  assured  his  audience  that  it  was 
beyond  all  reason  to  expect  that  a  common  laboring 
man  should  understand  theological  subjects,  as  did 
one  whose  whole  life  had  been  devoted  to  such 
studies.  "  It  is  absurd  to  suppose  that  a  mechanic, 
who  makes  barrels  for  a  living,  however  respectab'e 
his  talents,  or  sincere  his  intentions,  should  be 
skilled  in  the  profound  themes  of  theology."  Wilcox 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


357 


bore  the  jibe  with  undisturbed  equanimity.  In  reply, 
he  awarded  his  opponent  even  more  than  his  arro- 
gance claimed,  of  learned  preparation  for  the  occa- 
sion, and  skill  gained  by  many  encounters.  "  I  am 
a  mechanic.  I  claim  to  be  nothing  above  a  common 
laboring  man — an  honest  cooper.  And  yet  my  trade 
may  be  of  use  in  this  discussion  ;  for  if  my  oppo- 
nent swells  much  more  I  may  have  to  hoop  him  !  " 
This  sally  of  wit  "  brought  down  the  house."  "  Hoop 
him  !  "  cried  one.  "  Hoop  him,  Wilcox,  hoop  him  !  " 
shouted  others.  The  crowd  became  almost  hilarious. 
Graham  tried  to  rally.  But  it  was  useless.  He  was 
whipped  by  the  half-suppressed  "  hoop  him  ! "  from 
all  sides.  His  feathers  drooped,  and  he  retired  from 
the  contest. 

As  may  be  well  supposed  the  result  of  the  few 
evenings  spent  in  this  investigation  turned  decidedly 
in  favor  of  the  original  gospel. 

In  the  year  1834,  Mr.  T.  H.  Botsford  came  to 
Middlebury.  Mrs.  Botsford  was  a  firm  disciple. 
With  a  clear  perception  of  the  principles  of  the  ref- 
ormation, and  with  unbounded  confidence  in  their 
truthfulness  and  power,  she  could  not  remain  quiet 
and  see  the  disciples  scattered,  and  the  cause  pros- 
trate. She  found  another  whose  heart  was  as  her 
own,  in  the  burden  that  lay  upon  them  to  arouse  the 
members  to  the  work  of  the  Lord.  This  person  was 
Mrs.  Eliza  Parker,  consort  of  Dr.  Parker.  She  was 
a  lady  of  intelligence,  accomplished  in  her  manners, 
good  conversational  ability,  and,  like  Mrs.  Botsford, 
had  consecrated  herself  wholly  to  the  Lord.  These 
Christian  women  visited  personally  all  the  disciples 
in  Middlebury,  Akron,  and  the  township  of  Cov- 


353  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

entry,  inviting  them  to  Mr.  Botsford's  own  house  to 
revive  the  meetings.  At  the  first  there  was  no 
brother  to  read,  sing,  or  pray.  With  trembling  heart, 
but  unfaltering  purpose,  the  worship  was  conducted 
by  the  sisters.  No  breaking  of  bread  yet.  That 
altar  was  not  yet  rebuilt.  These  appointments  con- 
tinued. Brethren  Samuel  and  Elisha  Bangs  and 
Dan  Moulton  came  over  from  Akron  and  gave  them 
aid.  A.  B.  Green,  Wm.  Hayden,  A.  Allerton,  and 
others,  threw  in  appointments.  Bro.  Green  was  em- 
ployed for  a  considerable  time.  William  Hayden 
came  frequently  during  the  year  1836.  The  audi- 
ences increased,  and  the  ordinances  of  the  house  of 
the  Lord  were  again  regularly  observed. 

These  were  the  days  of  heart-songs  and  heaven- 
reaching  prayers.  And  the  preaching  !  It  was  hail 
mingled  with  rain!  The  prolonged  hour  flitted  away 
unconsciously.  The  group  of  disciples  tarried,  ex- 
horted each  other,  sung  warmly  and  feelingly  a  part- 
ing hymn,  and  with  a  final,  earnest  supplication  they 
commended  one  another  to  the  Good  Shepherd,  and 
separated.  But  they  were  unspeakably  happy  !  Poor 
pay  the  servant  of  the  Lord  received  for  his  pocket, 
but  he  saw  such  eagerness  to  hear ;  such  evidences 
that  his  ministrations  were  thankfully  appreciated  ; 
such  proof  that  he  had  resolved  a  doubt,  confirmed 
a  soul,  lifted  a  heart  into  new  light  and  comfort,  that 
he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing  in  a  labor  which  was 
reducing  him  every  week  into  straitness  and  want. 
Such  was  the  experience  in  all  parts,  but  in  no  region 
more  than  in  the  district  of  country  of  which  Akron 
was  the  center. 

This  effort  by  the  sisters  to  revive  the  church, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


359 


which  constituted  the  second  stage  of  its  history, 
was  made  early  in  the  year  1 836.  In  the  course  of 
three  years  considerable  accessions  had  been  made 
to  their  numbers,  and  a  new  organization  was  de- 
manded. Bro.  Bentley  and  Bro.  Bosworth  were 
called,  who  confirmed  them  in  the  faith,  and  ap- 
pointed Levi  Allen  and  Samuel  Bangs,  overseers, 
and  W.  B.  Storer  and  Jonah  Allen,  deacons.  Their 
number  was  then  thirty-two.  This  was  in  1839. 
The  year  1843  *s  memorable  in  the  annals  of  that 
congregation.  It  was  the  year  of  expectation.  The 
attention  of  the  people  of  the  whole  country,  from 
New  England  to  the  western  prairies,  was  arrested 
by  the  bold  position  of  the  sincere,  ardent,  but  mis- 
taken William  Miller,  of  Low  Hampton,  New  York, 
that  the  coming  of  the  Lord  and  end  of  the  world 
would  occur  in  that  year.  Great  religious  awaken- 
ings pervaded  the  country.  Multitudes,  who  had  no 
sympathy  with  Mr.  Miller  on  the  time  of  the  Lord's 
advent,  drank  into  the  spirit  of  revivalism  which 
stirred  all  churches.  Preachers  were  stimulated  to 
extraordinary  activity,  by  the  calls  for  meetings,  and 
the  many  doors  opening  to  them,  and  their  labors 
gathered  in  converts  every-where. 

The  church  in  Middlebury  sent  for  Bros.  J.  H. 
Jones  and  Dr.  J.  P.  Robison,  who  were  wholly  de- 
voted to  preaching,  and  whose  meetings  were  crowned 
with  many  conversions.  These  brethren  were  en- 
gaged in  Pittsburg.  Conferring  with  Bro.  Samuel 
Church,  they  sent  John  Cochrane  to  answer  the  call. 
Bro.  John  Taffe  being  there  at  the  time,  he  accom- 
panied Cochrane  to  Middlebury.  The  meeting  arose 
to  high  interest,    conversions   were   taking  place 


360 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


daily,  and  the  brethren  finding  more  help  needed, 
sent  an  express  call  for  Bro.  John  Henry.  That 
mighty  man,  M  quick  to  hear,"  but  not  M  slow  to 
speak,"  received  the  word  Saturday  night.  He 
preached  three  times  Sunday  at  home,  and  at  i 
o'clock  Monday,  he  was  at  Middlebury,  a  distance  of 
over  forty  miles.  He  dismounted  only  once  on  the 
way.  His  movements  were  like  an  electric  flash. 
Before  the  hour  for  evening  meeting  the  community 
were  all  apprised  of  his  presence,  and  he  began  his 
sermons  with  no  diminution  of  the  crowd.  There 
were  forty-nine  conversions,  and  one  other  addition. 

Henry's  horse  was  like  his  rider,  gay  with  life, 
eager  for  the  track.  The  morning  of  starting  home, 
the  moment  his  bit  was  released  from  the  hand  that 
held  him,  he  was  galloping  away,  while  Henry's  long 
surtuit  streamed  back  on  the  wind,  presenting  an 
amusing  spectacle  to  the  people  along  the  street. 

Early  in  1845,  Dr.  Wm.  F.  Pool  moved  into  Ak- 
ron. With  the  healing  art,  which  was  his  profession, 
he  united  the  diviner  art  of  healing  the  souls  of  the 
people,  and  during  his  residence  he  was  a  great  sup- 
port to  the  church.  In  the  winter  of  1849-50,  Bro. 
M.  J.  Streator  became  the  pastor  of  the  flock,  and  re- 
mained about  ten  months.  The  last  of  January, 
1854,  W.  S.  Gray  commenced  his  labor  in  the  church, 
which  continued  about  three  years.  Subsequently 
they  have  had  Bro.  J.  C.  Stark,  J.  G.  Encell,  J.  O. 
Beardslee,  L.  Cooley,  J.  F.  Rowe,  and  R.  G.  White, 
under  whose  able  administration  the  congregation 
has  tripled  its  membership. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


361 


The  Church  in  Mogadore,  Summit  County. 

As  the  leaven,  so  works  the  gospel  in  the  hearts 
of  men.  Near  Mogadore  there  lived  a  disciple  from 
Canfield,  by  the  name  of  Conrad  Turner.  At  his 
invitation,  E.  B.  Hubbard  and  C.  P.  Finch  preached 
there  one  Lord's  day,  in  the  summer  of  1828.  Just 
before  this,  Benj.  Green  had  put  the  "  Christian  Bap- 
tist" into  the  hands  of  William  Richards,  a  candid 
man,  not  a  professor,  stumbled  by  the  schismatic 
state  of  Christendom.  To  him,  the  preaching  of 
Finch  and  Hubbard  seemed  rational.  Hayden  soon 
came,  and  made  monthly  visits.  Seeing  the  interest, 
he  returned  in  the  spring,  bringing  Scott  with  him. 
They  held  a  two  days'  meeting  in  the  midst  of  the 
week,  in  J.  Anson  Bradley's  new  barn.  The  audience 
was  large :  they  were  on  the  King's  business,  and 
they  "  hurried  the  people  away  to  the  valley  of  de- 
cision." There  was  some  opposition,  but  it  turned 
to  the  advance  of  the  truth  ;  as  the  preachers,  instead 
of  giving  their  opinion  on  the  points  of  inquiry, 
read  the  word  of  the  Lord,  which  effectually  silenced 
controversy. 

The  vine  was  planted  and  watered,  and  soon  it  be- 
gan to  bear  fruit.  Hubbard  returned  and  baptized 
Mrs.  Wm.  Richards.  Then,  on  subsequent  occa- 
sions, came  Mrs.  J.  A.  Bradley,  Joseph  Baird,  Isaac 
Miller  and  his  wife.  In  September,  Wm.  Richards 
obeyed.  Then  J.  D.  Green  and  his  wife,  Allen  and 
his  wife,  and  J.  Anson  Bradley.  There  were  now 
thirteen  of  them.  They  naturally,  in  much  opposi- 
tion, came  together  for  encouragement  and  sympa- 
thy. The  aged  Bro.  Churchill,  of  Randolph,  came 
3i 


362 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


among  them,  and  under  his  counsels  these  new  con- 
verts stood  up  before  all  the  people,  and  entered 
solemnly  into  the  holy  obligations  of  a  church  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  organization  took  place  in 
the  year  1832,  in  the  school-house  near  Mr.  Asa 
Young's  residence. 

They  chose  Wm,  Richards  with  one  voice  as  their 
leader,  and  Benjamin  Green  as  deacon.  It  was  a 
day  of  great  responsibility  ;  and  so  felt  each  one  of 
that  little  fraternity.  The  opposition  was  violent,  if 
not  formidable,  and  this  was  to  all  of  them  an  untried 
step.  Many  pronounced  in  anticipation  a  failure  of 
the  attempt  to  gather  disciples,  and  regulate  the  af- 
fairs of  a  church  without  rules  written  out  and 
adopted  by  which  to  be  governed.  But  this  was  one 
breastwork  of  the  battle  of  that  day.  Relying  on 
the  wisdom  of  the  Founder  of  the  church  for  the 
sufficiency  of  the  rules  he  has  left  in  his  Word,  they 
clasped  hands  and  held  the  grip  till  their  hearts  beat 
in  unison  in  the  same  sublime  trust  in  God  and  his 
Word.  Their  opposers  were  false  prophets.  The 
continued  success  of  this  church  in  all  the  following 
years  has  vindicated  this  action  of  these  disciples. 

The  church  in  Mogadore  has  borne  her  testimony 
unbroken  from  the  beginning.  In  meetings  and 
works  of  enterprise  she  has  not  been  behind.  All 
the  preachers  have  gleaned  sheaves  in  this  field.  In 
1835,  Elder  T.  Campbell,  on  a  tour  among  the 
churches,  came  among  them.  His  gravity,  gentle- 
ness, and  authority  enforced  his  instructions  on  the 
whole  community.  In  1836,  they  erected  their  house 
of  worship.  For  several  years  the  brethren  who 
planted  the  church  kept  watch  of  their  welfare.  In 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  363 

1839,  Dr.  M.  Jevvett  settled  there,  a  brother,  who  by 
the  skill  of  W.  Hayden,  chiefly,  had  been  rescued 
from  the  wilderness  of  doubt,  engendered  by  the 
confusion  in  the  religious  world.  Uniting  his  influ- 
ence with  that  of  elders  Richards,  Baldwin,  and  J. 
D.  Green,  the  church  increased.  A.  B.  Green  was 
then  visiting  them  a  fourth  of  the  time.  Bro. 
Ryder  followed  for  two  years,  half  the  time.  Robi- 
son  and  M.  L.  Wilcox  gave  them  much  help.  Brock- 
ett  and  Philander  Green  are  cherished  in  grateful 
memory.  J.  Henry  held  a  great  meeting  in  1843, 
with  forty  conversions.  All  the  brethren  from  Deer- 
field  were  instant  in  their  support.  Bro.  Moss  for  a 
time  lived  among  them,  as  did  Bro.  Lillie  also,  both 
adding  converts.  Bro.  J.  H.  Jones  has  here  gathered 
many  souls  for  Christ. 

To  the  faith  and  perseverance  of  the  resident 
brethren  already  named,  and  the  female  members, 
whose  names  seldom  appear  in  earthly  chronicles,  is 
mainly  due  the  permanence  and  prosperity  of  this 
church.  In  later  times  the  mantle  has  fallen  on 
Bro.  Simon  Laudenslager,  and  the  brethren  Isaac 
and  James  Monroe,  who,  as  officers  and  leaders,  are 
holding  well  the  ground.  Bro.  J.  M.  Monroe,  of 
California,  is  a  gift  to  the  world  from  this  church, 
and  from  the  family  of  Bro.  Isaac  Monroe. 

The  Church  in.  Wadsworth,  with  Sketches  of 
A.  B.  Green  and  Elder  O.  Newcomb. 

A.  B.  Green  was  born  in  Litchfield  County,  January 
12,  1808.  His  parents  moved  into  Ohio  in  181 1,  and 
settled  soon  after  in  Norton,  Medina  County.  Amidst  the 
hardships  of  life  in  a  new  country,  he  was  brought  up ; 


364  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

and  in  the  midst  also  of  the  conflicts  of  Calvinism  and 
Arminianism,  and  the  resultant  compound,  Universalism. 
No  wonder  that,  like  many  others,  he  became  skeptical. 

On  Sunday,  his  father,  a  steady  church-goer,  said, 
"  Almon,  are  you  not  going  to  meeting?"  "  No,  father, 
I  think  I  will  stay  at  home  and  read."  The  "Family 
Testament,"  a  new  translation  of  the  New  Testament  by 
Drs.  Campbell,  of  Aberdeen,  Macknight  and  Doddridge, 
compiled  and  published  by  Alex.  Campbell,  had  recently 
made  its  appearance,  and  was  attracting  much  attention. 
During  the  quietness  of  that  blessed  day,  whose  associa- 
tions all  are  favorable  to  calm  and  candid  contemplation, 
Green  read  this  hew  and  attractive  book.  New  light  came 
into  his  mind,  and  a  new  interest  was  awakened  in  his 
heart.  He  arose  after  hours  of  serious  perusal  of  it,  ex- 
claiming aloud  to  himself,  "No  uninspired  man  ever 
wrote  that  book. ' '  The  stormy  and  dangerous  cape  of 
infidelity  being  "doubled,"  he  sailed  rapidly  past  the 
shoals  and  sharp  rocks  of  "total  depravity,"  "final  per- 
severance," etc.,  the  drift  and  debris  of  theological  per- 
iods, into  safer  channels.  Reading  regularly  on,  with  in- 
terest deepening  at  every  step,  he  came  to  Acts  ii :  38 ; 
"  Repent,  and  be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  you  shall  re- 
ceive the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit."  He  asked  Elder  New- 
comb  what  this  Scripture  means.  "  It  means  what  it 
says,"  replied  the  Elder,  with  his  characteristic  prompt- 
ness. This  reply  sent  the  meaning  deep  into  his  heart. 
In  a  few  days  he  sent  a  letter  to  Elder  Newcomb  asking 
for  baptism  at  his  hands,  which  event  took  place  Decem- 
ber 28,  1828. 

His  mouth  opened  in  praise,  and  in  pleading  the  claims 
of  .the  Savior  of  sinners.  He  soon  went  by  invitation  to 
Chippewa,  Granger,  and  other  places.  Elder  Newcomb 
was  his  counselor  and  steady  help.  Moved  by  him,  the 
church  granted  a  letter  of  commendation  to  the  young 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


365 


Timothy,  to  go  forth  proclaiming  the  glad  tidings.  His 
first  mission-trip  opened  at  Stowe,  September  10,  1833. 
One  came  for  baptism.  This  was  his  first  baptism.  His 
tour  was  about  three  weeks ;  from  it  he  returned,  his  natu- 
ral timidity  having  yielded  very  much  to  an  assured 
confidence  that  God  was  opening  the  way  for  him  into 
fields  of  extensive  usefulness. 

From  this  period  he  has  belonged  to  the  public.  In 
all  the  counties  of  North-east  Ohio,  much  in  other  parts 
of  it,  in  other  States  also,  and  in  Canada,  he  has  "fully 
preached  the  gospel  of  Christ."  For  more  than  forty 
years  he  has  been  zealously  engaged  and  personally  iden- 
tified with  all  the  movements — missionary,  educational, 
and  social — tending  to  build  up  the  churches,  and  extend 
the  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

The  church  in  Wadsworth  arose  as  follows :  There  had 
been  a  Baptist  church  in  the  community,  principally  in 
the  care  of  Elder  Obadiah  Newcomb,  a  very  worthy  man, 
of  good  gifts  and  excellent  sense.  In  the  fall  of  1818,  he 
came  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  preached 
for  a  time,  and  associated  with  the  ministers  of  the  city. 
He  came  to  Wadsworth  in  the  spring  of  1822,  where  he 
planted  a  Baptist  church.  The  "Christian  Baptist"  ap- 
peared soon  after,  and  Mr.  Newcomb  obtained  and  read 
it.  Its  views  of  New  Testament  truth  arrested  his  eager 
attention.  Too  conscientious  to  preach  the  doctrines  of 
the  "creed,"  now  that  he  found  them  not  among  the 
apostolic  "traditions,"  he  slackened  in  his  ministry  till 
these  new  and  scriptural  views  became  well  formed  in  his 
mind.  The  church  ran  low.  The  "Elder"  was  nearly 
silent,  save  at  funerals  and  special  occasions.  But  the 
"Christian  Baptist"  was  faithful  in  its  visits.  It  was 
read  by  him,  by  his  family,  and  by  others.  William  Hay- 
den  came  among  the  people  about  this  time,  and  the 
smoldering  fires  burst  forth  in  flames.  There  was  agita- 
tion every-where.    Mr.  Newcomb  exchanging  the  mien 


366  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


of  a  clergyman  for  the  panoply  of  the  gospel,  lifted  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit  and  went  into  the  battle.  Green  was 
baptized ;  others  followed.  Williams  came,  and  in  Wads- 
worth,  where  the  people  formally  heard  Universalism  from 
his  eloquent  lips,  they  now  heard  the  original  gospel  in 
its  simplicity,  as  it  was  first  told  by  the  holy  apostles. 

The  church  of  Wadsworth  was  formed  in  February, 
1829.  The  first  day  there  were  eight  members:  Obadiah 
Newcomb  ;  his  two  daughters,  Statira  and  Matilda,  re- 
cently baptized ;  P.  Butler,  Samuel  Green,  A.  B.  Green, 
and  John  and  Sarah  Bunnell.  Bro.  Newcomb  was  ap- 
pointed elder,  and  John  Bunnell,  deacon  of  the  new  or- 
ganization. 

This  church  soon  became  a  strong  pillar.  William 
Eyles,  late  judge  of  court,  soon  united  with  his  family. 
Conversions  were  almost  constant.  The  opposition  was 
active,  vigilant,  and  often  virulent,  but  over  all  the  gos- 
pel made  steady  and  triumphant  progress. 

The  first  yearly  meeting  held  in  Wadsworth  was  in 
September,  1833,  in  a  new  barn  belonging  to  Bro.  William 
Eyles.  The  meeting  was  noted  for  the  numbers  who  at- 
tended it,  and  for  the  stimulus  it  gave  to  the  cause  of  ref- 
ormation. Being  quite  removed  from  the  sources  and 
center  of  the  work,  the  proclamation  was  new  to  large 
numbers  who  came  a  long  distance  to  attend  it.  A.  Camp- 
bell was  present ;  also  William  Hayden,  John  Henry, 
Marcus  Bosworth,  E.  B.  Hubbard,  J.  J.  Moss,  and  many 
others.    There  were  many  converts. 

An  incident  occurred  at  this  time  which  displays  Mr. 
Campbell's  character  for  discernment  and  candor.  Aaron 
Pardee,  a  gentleman  residing  in  the  vicinity,  an  unbe- 
liever in  the  gospel,  attracted  by  Campbell's  abilities  as  a 
reasoner,  and  won  by  his  fairness  in  argument,  resolved  to 
obtain  a  private  interview,  and  propose  freely  his  difficul- 
ties. Mr.  Campbell  received  him  with  such  frankness 
that  he  opened  his  case  at  once,  saying:  "I  discover,  Mr. 


IN  THE   WESTERN  RESERVE. 


367 


Campbell,  you  are  well  prepared  in  the  argument  and 
defenses  of  the  Christian  religion.  I  confess  to  you 
frankly  there  are  some  difficulties  in  my  mind  which  pre- 
vent my  believing  the  Bible,  particularly  the  Old  Testa- 
ment." Mr.  Campbell  replied:  "I  acknowledge  freely, 
Mr.  Pardee,  there  are  difficulties  in  the  Bible — difficulties 
not  easy  to  explain,  and  some,  perhaps,  which  in  our 
present  state  of  information  can  not  be  cleared  up.  But, 
my  dear  sir,  when  I  consider  the  overwhelming  testimony 
in  their  favor,  so  ample,  complete,  and  satisfactory,  I  can 
not  resist  the  conviction  of  their  divine  origin.  The  field 
of  prophetic  inspiration  is  so  varied  and  full,  and  the  in- 
ternal evidences  so  conclusive,  that  with  all  the  difficulties, 
the  preponderance  of  evidence  is  overwhelmingly  in  their 
favor."  This  reply,  so  fair  and  so  manly,  and  so  differ- 
ent from  the  pulpit  denunciation  of  "skeptics,"  "infi- 
dels," etc.,  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed,  quite  dis- 
armed him,  and  led  him  to  hear  the  truth  and  its  evidence 
in  a  much  more  rational  state  of  mind.  Within  a  year 
he  became  fully  satisfied  of  the  truthfulness  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  apprehending  clearly  their  testimony  to 
the  claims  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  as  the  anointed  Son  of 
God,  he  was  prepared  to  yield  to  him  the  obedience  of 
his  life.  At  a  two  days'  meeting  held  there  by  Bro.  A. 
B.  Green  and  A.  S.  Hayden,  Mr.  Pardee  and  four  others 
were  baptized. 

Elder  Newcomb  being  fully  relieved  of  the  irreconcil- 
able perplexities  of  the  Calvinistic  system,  was  now  like 
an  eagle  fresh  from  the  moulting.  His  joy  was  unbounded, 
and  his  zeal  was  equal  to  that  of  a  new  convert.  He 
rode  horse-back  sixty  miles,  to  the  great  meeting  in  Aus- 
tintown,  in  1830,  accompanying  a  full  two-horse  wagon, 
loaded  with  members  of  his  own  family  and  others,  to 
the  same  meeting.  .He  preached,  visited,  and  talked  con- 
tinually. He  had  an  element  of  sternness  in  his  charac- 
ter.   Going  to  the  school-house  early  Sunday  to  meeting, 


368    .       EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

he  took  his  usual  seat.  He  descried  a  young  man  across 
the  room  with  a  flashy  guard-chain  displayed  in  a  con- 
spicuous manner  over  his  vest.  He  looked  at  his  Testa- 
ment, then  cast  a  glance  to  the  gay  toy.  After  a  few- 
moments  he  closed  his  book,  walked  across  the  house,  and 
without  uttering  a  word,  gathered  the  glittering  ornament 
off  the  young  man's  neck,  put  it  all  down  into  the  owner's 
pocket  out  of  sight,  then  walked  back  to  his  seat,  and 
quietly  resumed  his  preparation  for  the  meeting. 

He  once  accompanied  Bro.  Green  in  a  preaching  tour 
to  Bethany  and  the  region  round  about.  At  a  night 
meeting  on  Salt  Run,  Ohio,  he  arose  before  a  full  house, 
announced  the  hymn  in  usual  manner,  and  requested  some 
brother  to  "  set  the  tune."  No  one  starting,  he  repeated 
the  first  two  lines,  saying:  "I  hope  some  brother  will 
raise  the  tune."  All  were  silent.  Closing  the  book  he 
said:  "The  apostle  James  says;  '  Is  any  merry,  let  him 
sing  psalms;  is  any  afflicted,  let  him  pray.'  I  think  the 
people  here  must  be  afflicted — let  us  pray  !  " 

This  excellent  man  passed  away  universally  respected. 
He  died  October  4,  1847,  aged  seventy-four  years. 

The  congregation  in  Wadsworth  has  been  a  light 
to  all  the  region  round  about.  It  is  mother  of 
churches,  and  mother  of  preachers.  The  following 
proclaimers  of  the  gospel  received  their  earliest  aid 
and  encouragement  there,  and  some  of  them  were 
brought  forth  almost  exclusively  by  this  church  :  A. 
B.  Green,  Wm.  Moody,  Holland  Brown,  Philander 
Green,  B.  F.  Perky,  and  Pardee  Butler.  Bro.  L.  L. 
Carpenter,  also,  from  the  church  in  Norton,  a  daugh- 
ter and  dependency  of  Wadsworth,  gained  his  guiding 
impulse  there  to  his  distinguished  usefulness. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


369 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


The  gospel  in  Ravenna,  in  Aurora  and  Stowe,  Franklin  and 
Hudson. 


The  Church  of  Christ  in  Ravenna. 
HIS  is  one  of  the  most  stable  of  the  churches. 


*  From  its  establishment,  early  in  May,  1830,  to 
the  present  time,  a  period  of  over  forty-five  years,  it 
has  never  once  ceased  to  meet  on  the  blessed  Lord's 
day,  except  as  they  agreed  to  omit  in  favor  of  the 
regular  yearly  meeting. 

The  conversion  and  baptism  of  Ebenezer  Williams, 
the  Restorationist  minister,  living  in  Ravenna,  by 
Aylett  Raines,  has  already  been  mentioned.  From 
this  event  the  work  opened,  as  Bro.  Williams  imme- 
diately began  to  preach  the  gospel  which  he  now 
understood,  and  most  ardently  loved.  His  preach- 
ing being  mostly  abroad,  no  stand  was  taken  for  the 
apostolic  gospel  in  Ravenna.  In  the  winter  of  1830, 
Marcus  Bosworth  sent  an  appointment  to  the  Clem- 
ent district,  three  miles  north-west  of  the  town 
of  Ravenna.  His  audience  was  small,  but  it  yielded 
the  fruit  of  one  conversion,  a  brother  Jonathan  Stew- 
art. The  1 2th  of  March,  William  Hayden  came. 
Seven  souls  turned  to  the  Lord.  From  this  time  the 
tide  of  interest  swelled.  The  subject  of  the  new 
preaching  was  in  every  one's  mouth.  No  lack  of 
hearers  now,  and  there  were  converts  at  every  ap- 


370  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


pointment.  The  seeds  of  a  pernicious  infidelity  had 
been  early  sown  in  Ravenna.  They  were  bearing 
their  bitter  and  baleful  fruits  in  a  reckless  indifference 
to  all  sacred  things,  and  the  revolt  of  the  soul  from 
all  religious  obligations.  Hayden  was  the  man  for 
such  a  people.  Weil  prepared  on  the  evidences  of 
the  Bible,  and  very  expert  in  exposing  the  subtle  and 
sophistical  refuges  of  the  unbelieving  heart,  his  ser- 
mons were  heard  with  great  satisfaction  and  profit. 
Early  in  May,  he  collected  the  disciples  together,  num- 
bering twenty-six,  and  formally  set  them  apart  as  a 
church  of  Jesus  Christ.  Bro.  Sturdevant,  a  licensed 
preacher  of  the  Baptist  order,  uniting,  the  new 
church  was  placed  under  his  charge.  It  continued 
to  prosper,  gathering  additions  almost  every  time  a 
preacher  came  in  among  them.  Bros.  Ryder,  Atwater, 
Green,  and  the  Deerfield  brethren  came,  like  Apollos 
and  Timothy,  to  comfort  their  hearts  and  confirm 
their  faith  ;  but  Hayden  and  Bosworth  were  their 
chief  reliance.  In  the  absence  of  a  preacher,  the 
members  assumed  the  duties  of  edification,  and  broke 
the  loaf  of  blessing  among  themselves  ;  a  practice  in 
which  the  disciples  on  the  Western  Reserve  were 
correctly  taught  in  the  beginning.  In  the  summer 
of  1830,  Scott  delivered  a  discourse  in  the  Methodist 
church,  in  the  village,  to  a  full  and  delighted  audience. 
Fisher,  of  Kentucky,  was  with  him.  It  was  here  he 
compared  the  creed  to  a  silver  quarter-dollar,  which, 
though  small,  may  be  held  so  close  to  the  eye  that 
the  sun  can  not  be  seen.  Thus  the  creed,  though  a 
little  thing,  may  hide  the  Bible  from  sight. 

In  June,  1S31,  Mr.  Campbell  came  to  the  Western 
Reserve.    Mormonism  had  recently  burst  forth,  and 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


371 


the  emissaries  of  that  crude  and  strange  delusion 
were  every-vvhere  active  in  calling  victims  into  the 
snare.  On  his  way  he  made  Ravenna  a  point  for  a 
few  addresses.  William  Hayden,  with  whom  he  had 
communicated  in  regard  to  his  trip,  obtained,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  brethren,  and  fitted  up  with 
seats  a  grove  in  the  environs  of  the  town.  A  vast 
crowd  of  people  came  to  hear  the  gifted  advocate  and 
defender  of  the  Bible.  The  bold  and  prattling  infi- 
delity, rampant  in  Ravenna,  found  no  quarter  at  his 
hands.  Like  a  pestiferous  atmosphere,  it  was  poison- 
ing and  demoralizing  all  piety,  all  truth,  all  moral 
health,  and  was  destructive  to  all  social  order  and 
happiness.  Mr.  Campbell  was  at  home  in  this  de- 
partment of  Christian  labor.  He  surveyed  his  audi- 
ence, and  directing  well  the  range  of  his  artillery, 
within  two  hours  and  a  half  the  flotilla  of  their  skep- 
tical crafts  was  shattered  and  sunken.  "  Heavens  ! 
what  an  eye  he  has  !  "  said  one  of  the  master  men  to 
F.  Williams  ;  "  he  scorches  wherever  he  looks  !  " 

Court  was  in  session.  The  presiding  judge  sent  a 
note  of  invitation  to  Mr.  Campbell  to  deliver  a  dis- 
course in  the  court  room — the  court,  under  resolution, 
adjourning  for  that  purpose.  He  accepted  the  invi- 
tation, and  on  opening  the  service,  with  full  and 
ringing  emphasis,  he  read  the  hymn  : 

"  I 'm  not  ashamed  to  own  my  Lord, 
Nor  to  defend  his  cause ! 
Maintain  the  honor  of  his  word, 
The  glory  of  his  cross  !  " 

His  masterly  and  convincing  argument  for  the  truth 
of  the  Bible,  founded  on  prophecy,  was  then  delivered 
in  his  own  best  style.    Mr.  John  Harmon  was  then 


372 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


publishing,  in  Ravenna,  a  little  paper,  the  "  Ohio 
Watchman,"  an  infidel  sheet  of  some  pretensions. 
The  editor  was  in  the  assembly.  In  the  sermon, 
Mr.  Campbell,  having  made  a  climax  in  his  argument, 
paused  on  it,  remarking :  u  He  who  can  not  see  this, 
has  closed  his  ears  and  shut  his  eyes,  and  is  blind — 
as  blind" — gathering  force  by  delay,  uas  blind  as  the 
'  Ohio  Watchman  ! At  the  dinner  table,  at  the 
hotel,  where  the  judge  and  several  of  the  lawyers 
were  dining,  the  argument  of  Mr.  Campbell  was  the 
topic  of  conversation.  One  of  the  young  lawyers 
remarked :  "  I  could  not  see  the  point  of  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's argument  to-day!"  "Very  likely,"  replied  the 
judge;  "arguments  are  always  obscure  to  persons 
who  can  not  understand  them  !  " 

Frederick  Williams,  long  a  prominent  citizen  of 
the  county,  an  elder  and  useful  preacher,  was  born 
in  Hampshire  County,  Mass.,  March  2,  1799.  He 
came  to  Ravenna,  July  2,  181 5.  On  the  17th  of 
September,  1828,  he  married  Miss  Marcia  Underwood, 
an  alliance  of  uninterrupted  happiness  to  the  present 
time.  His  mind  had  been  imbued  with  Winchester- 
ian  Universalism,  but  on  hearing  the  gospel  as  pro- 
claimed by  the  apostles,  his  candid  heart  laid  hold  of 
it.  In  the  year  1833,  he  and  his  wife  were  baptized 
in  Sandy  Lake  by  Amos  Allerton. 

Bro.  Charles  Judd,  a  man  of  good  sense,  an  excel- 
lent heart  and  devout  mind,  entered  the  kingdom 
about  the  same  time.  The  accession  of  these  two 
men  added  much  weight  to  the  cause.  Father  Stur- 
devant  had  been  the  chief  presiding  officer.  These 
brethren  were  soon  called  to  the  bishop's  chair,  in 
which  position,  they  co-operated  by  counsel  and  by 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


373 


public  discourse  to  maintain  the  church  for  a  whole 
generation.  Few  churches  have  been  blessed  with 
so  judicious  and  efficient  elders.  Bro.  Judd,  full  of 
honor  and  of  hope,  went  to  await  his  crown,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1864,  and  was  laid  beside  his  foster  son,  the 
beloved  and  lamented  Sterling  McBride..  Bro.  Wil- 
liams tarries  yet  a  little  longer. 

The  Congregation  continued  to  meet  in  the  Clem- 
ment  district  about  ten  years,  when  they  moved  into 
the  village.  They  built  their  house  in  1844.  Bro. 
A.  B.  Green  conducted  the  dedicatory  exercises  in 
December,  from  which  time  they  have  not  only  held 
the  ground  but  gained  in  numbers,  wisdom,  and  social 
power. 

Bro.  John  T.  Smith  was  employed,  Bro.  Charles 
McDougal  also.  Bro.  C.  C.  Foot  served  four  years. 
He  was  followed  by  Bro.  A.  B.  Green — five  years. 
Bro.  Lowe  and  Bro.  Amzi  Atwater  came  afterward. 
The  congregation  now  flourishes  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Bro.  George  Darsie. 

The  first  yearly  meeting  held  in  Ravenna  was  in 
June,  1838.  It  was  held  in  a  large  barn  fitted  up  for 
the  purpose.  The  preachers  in  attendance  were 
Hubbard,  Marcus  Bosworth,  William  Hayden,  Moss, 
Allerton,  J.  W.  Lanphear,  A.  B.  Green,  Robison, 
Moody,  A.  P.  Jones  and  A.  S.  Hayden. 

Ravenna  church  has  always  hospitably  entertained 
the  brethren,  and  numerous  conventions  have,  from 
time  to  time,  found  there  a  welcome. 

Present  overseers  :  George  Darsie,  Albert  Under- 
wood, Samuel  J.  Gross.  Deacons :  John  Mahard, 
R.  B.  Johnson,  Whiting  Carter,  P.  P.  Dawley,  E.  C. 
Belding,  Alex.  Clements.    Members  :  319. 


374 


EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Among  the  early  fallen  is  Bro.  S.  McBride,  reared 
in  this  church,  the  foster  son  of  Bro.  and  Sister  Judd. 
His  serious  and  contemplative  character  in  youth 
gave  promise  of  a  devout  and  earnest  manhood. 
After  progressing  far  in  his  studies  in  Hiram,  he  was 
graduated  in  Bethany,  and  immediately  devoted  him- 
self to  preaching.  In  many  places,  especially  in  Sa- 
lem and  New  Philadelpnia,  he  gained  for  himself  the 
permanent  esteem  of  the  people  for  his  amiable  man- 
ners and  efficient  services  in  the  gospel.  He  died 
of  a  fever  while  young.  Intelligence  of  his  death 
was  received  while  the  preachers'  meeting  was  in  ses- 
sion in  Newburg,  October  4,  1864.  "A  committee 
was  appointed  to  report  resolutions  expressive  of  the 
merited  respect  we  owe  to  the  memory  of  our  dear 
Bro.  Sterling  McBride,  just  this  day  laid  in  the 
grave  : 

"Whereas,  We  have  learned  with  great  sorrow  of  the 
unexpected  death,  only  day  before  yesterday,  of  our  be- 
loved fellow-laborer  in  the  gospel,  Bro.  Sterling  McBride ; 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  fully  appreciate  the  great  loss  we 
have  sustained  in  the  sudden  demise  of  that  brother,  of 
gentle  and  amiable  spirit,  a  highly  appreciated  preacher 
of  the  gospel.  With  great  assiduity  he  struggled  under 
pecuniary  embarrassments  till  he  gained  a  college  diploma, 
and  with  it  a  clear  and  sound  education.  Of  modest  man- 
ners, an  earnest  and  confiding  heart,  firm  and  decided  in 
character,  he  possessed  a  high  and  honorable  friendship, 
and  a  well  regulated  Christian  character.  As  a  preacher 
he  already  controlled  a  wide  influence.  We  feel  that  the 
churches  in  Ohio  have  suffered  a  great  loss  in  the  fading 
from  our  sky  of  a  bright  star ;  and  we  in  this  meeting 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


375 


also,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most  diligent  members  of  this 
association. 

"Resolved,  That  we  have  a  deep  sense  of  the  loss  sus- 
tained by  his  afflicted  wife  and  children,  in  the  early  de- 
mise of  her  devoted  husband  and  their  affectionate  father. 


This  church  was  established  October  17,  1830,  by 
the  indefatigable  William  Hayden.  He  laid  his  plan 
and  pursued  it.  He  visited  the  community  at  regu- 
lar intervals,  and  by  much  private  conversation,  as 
well  as  by  his  cogent  and  instructive  discourses,  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  permanent  work  in  the  solid 
instruction  of  the  people.  No  man  has  less  confi- 
dence in  mere  revival  processes.  No  one  ever  had 
more  in  the  illumination  of  the  understanding  as  the 
method  of  reaching  the  heart  and  persuading  the 
will.  Discarding  the  arts  of  revivalism,  he  was 
strong  in  reasons  for  his  statements,  and  often  at- 
tained a  high  degree  of  argumentative  eloquence  in 
his  appeals.  To  such  a  nature,  a  measure  of  opposi- 
tion was  necessary  to  awaken  his  reserve  forces  and 
to  marshal  them  in  the  best  position  and  order. 
This  stimulus  was  not  wanting  in  Aurora.  No  won- 
der, then,  that  the  city  of  the  great  King  was  built 
up  there  on  granite,  and  that  it  has  remained  to  this 
day.  The  earlier  converts  included  some  of  the 
most  sensible,  shrewd,  and  intelligent  citizens  of  the 
community.  Upon  the  organization  of  this  congre- 
gation, they  had  such  men  as  Gamaliel  Kent,  Russell 
G.  McCarty  and  Samuel  Russell,  to  whom,  as  elders, 


F.  M.  Green,  Sec. 


The  Church  in  Aurora. 


3/6 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


they  committed  the  management  of  their  affairs. 
For  four  years  the  church  met  in  the  south  school- 
house,  by  Eli  Cannon's  ;  after  this  they  moved  the 
meetings  to  the  center  of  the  township. 

Bro.  Marcus  Bosworth  was  early  on  the  ground. 
Happy  the  people  who  heard  the  weeping  Bosworth. 
He  was  brimful  of  tenderness.  "Little  children,  let 
us  love  one  another,  for  love  is  of  God  ;"  came  as  nat- 
urally from  him  as  from  the  lips  of  the  beloved  dis- 
ciple. He  and  Hayden  were  greatly  attached,  and 
they  were  counterpointed  in  a  most  admirable  man- 
ner to  be  co-workers  in  the  gospel.  Soon  after  the 
church  got  under  way  the  serene  and  stately  Bentley 
came  among  them,  adding  the  weight  of  piety,  ex- 
perience, and  great  personal  dignity,  elements  both 
needful  and  rare,  to  enforce  and  carry  on  the  work 
of  reform. 

The  following  were  the  original  members  :  Isaac 
H.  Streator  and  his  wife  Clarina  Streator ;  their  chil- 
dren Charity,  Cyrus  and  Marius  Streator ;  Alonzo  Root 
and  his  wife  ;  Whitney  Smith  and  his  wife  ;  Simon 
and  Sally  Norton  ;  Polly  Ruggles,  Mary  Lake,  Ga- 
maliel H.  Kent  and  his  wife  ;  Russell  G.  McCarty 
and  his  wife  ;  Samuel  Russell,  Joel  Giles,  and  So- 
phronia  Stanton.  In  a  short  time,  both  Henry  and 
Alanson  Baldwin,  with  their  wives,  came  in.  For 
many  years  they  were  leading  men,  and  their  boun- 
tiful hospitality  was  an  efficient  means  of  sustaining 
the  cause.  Bro.  Henry  Baldwin,  for  many  years  one 
of  the  overseers,  moved  twenty  years  ago  to  Niles, 
where  he  fell  peacefully  asleep  June,  1875,  age^  82 
years. 

The  next  year,  June,  183 1,  following  the  outburst 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  2)77 

of  Mormonism,  there  was  held  a  grove  meeting  in 
Aurora,  east  of  the  center.  Mr.  Campbell  was  pres- 
ent, as  were  likewise  many  of  the  preachers.  Hon. 
A.  G.  Riddle,  in  his  recent  work,  entitled  "The 
Portrait :  a  Romance  of  the  Cuyahoga  Valley,"  has 
written  so  truthfully  concerning  it  that  I  transfer  his 
description  to  my  page  : 

"The  woods  were  full  of  horses  and  carriages,  and'  the 
hundreds  already  there  were  rapidly  swelled  to  many  thou- 
sands ;  all  of  one  race — the  Yankee ;  all  of  one  calling,  or 
nearly — the  farmer ;  hardy,  shrewd,  sunburned,  cool, 
thoughtful  and  intelligent.  The  disciples  were,  from  the 
first,  emancipated  from  the  Puritan  slavery  of  the  Sabbath  ; 
and,  although  grave,  thoughtful  and  serious,  as  they  were 
on  this  Sunday  morning,  it  was  from  the  gravity  and  se- 
riousness of  the  occasion,  and  little  from  the  day  itself — 
an  assemblage  that  Paul  would  have  been  glad  to  preach 
to. 

"At  the  hour  of  eleven,  Mr.  Campbell  and  his  party 
took  their  places  on  the  stand,  and  after  a  short,  simple, 
preliminary  service,  conducted  by  another,  he  came  for- 
ward to  the  front.  He  was  then  about  forty  years  old, 
above  the  average  height,  of  singular  dignity  of  form,  and 
simple  grace  of  manner.  His  was  a  splendid  head,  borne 
well  back,  with  a  bold,  strong  forehead,  from  which  his 
fine  hair  was  turned  back ;  a  strong,  full}  expressive  eye, 
aquiline  nose,  fine  mouth,  and  prominent  chin.  He  was 
a  perfect  master  of  himself,  a  perfect  master  of  his  theme, 
and,  from  the  moment  he  stood  in  its  presence,  a  perfect 
master  of  his  immense  audience. 

"At  a  glance  he  took  the  measure  and  level  of  the 
average  mind  before  him — a  Scotchman's  estimate  of  the 
Yankee — and  began  at  that  level ;  and  as  he  rose  from  it, 
he  took  the  assembled  host  with  him.  In  nothing  was  he 
like  Rigdon  ;  calm,  clear,  strong,  logical,  yet  perfectly  sim- 
32 


378  EARLY    HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


pie.  Men  felt  themselves  lifted  and  carried,  and  wondered 
at  the  ease  and  apparent  want  of  effort  with  which  it  was 
done. 

"  Nothing  could  be  more  transparent  than  his  statement 
of  his  subject;  nothing  franker  than  his  admission  of  its 
difficulties;  nothing  more  direct  than  his  enumeration  of 
the  means  he  must  employ,  and  the  conclusions  he  must 
reach.  With  great  intellectual  resources,  and  great  acqui- 
sitions, athlete  and  gladiator  as  he  was,  he  was  a  logician 
by  instinct  and  habit  of  mind,  and  took  a  pleasure  in  mag- 
nifying, to  their  utmost,  the  difficulties  of  his  positions, 
so  that  when  the  latter  were  finally  maintained,  the  mind 
was  satisfied  with  the  result.  His  language  was  copious, 
his  style  nervous,  and  the  characteristic  of  his  mind  was 
direct,  manly,  sustained  vigor;  and  under  its  play  he 
evolved  a  warmth  which  kindled  to  the  fervor  of  sustained 
eloquence,  and  which,  in  the  judgment  of  many,  is  the 
only  true  eloquence.  After  nearly  two  hours,  his  natural 
and  logical  conclusion  was  the  old  pentecostal  mandate  of 
Simon  Peter,  and  a  strong,  manly  and  tender  call  of  men 
to  obedience.  There  was  no  appeal  to  passion,  no  effort 
at  pathos,  no  figures  or  rhetoric,  but  a  warm,  kindling, 
heated,  glowing,  manly  argument,  silencing  the  will,  cap- 
tivating the  judgment,  and  satisfying  the  reason ;  and  the 
cold,  shrewd,  thinking,  calculating  Yankee  liked  it. 

"As  the  preacher  closed  and  stood  for  a  response,  no 
answering  movement  came  from  any  part  of  the  crowd. 
Men  were  running  it  over,  and  thinking.  Unhesitatingly 
the  orator  stepped  down  from  the  platform  upon  the 
ground,*  and  moving  forward  in  the  little  open  space,  began 
in  a  more  fervid  and  impassioned  strain.  He  caught  the 
mind  at  the  highest  point  of  its  attainment,  and  grasping 
it,  shook  it  with  a  half  indignation  at  its  calculating  hesi- 
tation, and  carrying  it  with  a  mighty  sweep  to  a  still  higher 
level,  seemed  to  pour  around  it  a  diviner  and  more  radi- 
ant light ;  then,  with  a  little  tremor  in  his  voice,  he  im- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  .  379 

plored  it  to  hesitate  no  longer.  When  he  closed,  low 
murmurs  broke  and  ran  through  the  awed  crowd ;  men 
and  women  from  all  parts  of  the  vast  assemblage,  with 
streaming  eyes,  came  forward  ;  young  men  who  had  climbed 
into  the  small  trees  from  curiosity,  came  down  from  con- 
viction, and  went  forward  to  baptism;  and  the  brothers 
and  sisters  set  up  a  glad  hymn,  sang  with  tremulous  voices, 
clasping  hands  amid  happy  tears. 

"Thus,  in  that  far  off  time,  in  the  maple  woods,  under 
the  June  sun,  the  gospel  was  preached  and  received." 

For  the  next  three  years  there  was  a  steady  in- 
crease. In  June,  1834,  the  yearly  meeting  was  in 
Aurora.  It  was  one  of  much  historic  importance; 
a  large  number  of  preachers  attended  it,  many  of 
whom,  before  this,  were  nearly  strangers.  Hymns 
and  tunes,  known  by  leaders,  were  caught  and  trans- 
fused throughout  the  mass  of  eager  disciples,  and 
carried  home  to  animate  the  rising  churches  every- 
where. Chauncey  Forward,  from  Somerset,  Pa.,  was 
present  as  the  chief  speaker.  Aurora  was  his  home 
in  his  youth.  He  had  attained  a  distinguished  posi- 
tion at  the  bar  and  in  Congress  ;  but  having  confessed 
the  Lord  Jesus,  he  renounced  the  professions  of  law 
and  the  rulership  of  men,  and  he  appeared  on  this 
occasion  among  the  scenes  of  early  years,  to  plead 
the  cause  of  primitive  Christianity.  His  abilities  as 
a  reasoner  and  eloquence  in  appeal,  commanded  the 
profound  attention  of  large  audiences  daily.  There 
were  thirty-one  converts,  some  of  whom  afterward 
became  public  advocates  of  the  gospel. 

In  the  year  1837,  under  the  charge  of  Henry  and 
Alanson  Baldwin  and  A.  V.  Jewett,  as  building  com- 
mittee, the  meeting-house  was  erected,  and  dedicated 
by  John  Henry.    The  next  year,  brethren  Clapp  and 


38o 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Green  held  a  meeting  in  it,  with  thirty  conversions. 
In  1855  it  was  burned.  A  better  one  was  immedi- 
ately erected  at  a  cost  of  $1500,  and  dedicated  by 
A.  S.  Hayden.  In  1843,  a  great  meeting  was  con- 
ducted by  Bros.  J.  H.  Jones  and  John  Henry,  which 
brought  in  thirty  additions.  The  same  year,  M.  L. 
Wilcox  came  and  preached  for  two  years  with  great 
acceptance. 

There  were  churches  formed  in  Streetsborough 
and  in  Bainbridge  in  the  year  1845,  which  drew  mem- 
bers from  this  church  and  reduced  its  strength. 
These  societies,  after  flourishing  a  number  of  years, 
have  both  become  extinct ;  but  the  parent  church, 
though  weakened,  has  never  failed  to  keep  the  light 
burning.  "  From  first  to  last  the  church  has  had  as 
teachers,  William  Hayden,  M.  Bosvvorth,  A.  S.  Hay- 
den, A.  Bentley,  J.  J.  Moss,  John  Henry,  Charles 
McDougall,  J.  T.  Smith,  T.  Munnell,  J.  Hartzel,  A. 
Allerton,  A.  B.  Green,  W.  Collins,  B.  F.  Perky, 
M.  L.  Wilcox,  N.  Dunshee,  T.  J.  Newcomb,  H.  W. 
Everest,  J.  A.  Garfield,  C.  P.  Bowler,  E.  Doolittle, 
S.  A.  Griffin,  B.  A.  Hinsdale,  O.  C.  Hill,  and  some 
others."  But  to  the  home  membership  all  credit  is 
due  for  faithfulness  and  devotion  to  the  cause  in  all 
times  and  amidst  many  trying  discouragements. 

A  good  story  went  the  rounds,  in  early  day,  of 
one  David  Shepherd,  a  blacksmith,  who  came  into 
Aurora  about  the  beginning  of  this  Bible  reform. 
His  wife  and  a  female  relative  of  hers,  professors  of 
religion,  were,  before  coming  into  town,  warned  by 
their  friends  against  the  "  Campbellites,"  and  straitly 
charged,  and  were  put  under  formal  pledge,  not  to 
hear  them.    Having  received  so  strict  a  charge,  they 


IN   THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


381 


retired  into  the  inner  prison,  secured  by  high  and 
strong  walls  of  prejudice.  Isaac  Streator,  Esq., 
already  a  convert  to  the  faith,  coming  to  Shepherd's 
shop  on  business,  talked  freely  about  the  preachers, 
the  preaching,  and  the  interest  aroused  on  all  sides. 
He  concluded  by  inviting  Shepherd  to  come  to  the 
south  school-house  and  hear  John  Henry,  a  man  of 
native  wit,  of  good  sense,  and  great  power.  Shep- 
herd went,  timidly.  Unexpectedly  he  was  greatly 
pleased,  hearing  for  the  first  time  a  gospel  he  could 
understand  and  read  in  his  Bible.  Buying  a  cheap 
testament,  convenient  for  the  pocket,  he  examined 
the  passages  referred  to  in  the  sermon,  and  found,  truly 
enough,  the  doctrine  of  baptism  of  the  repenting  per- 
son for  the  remission  of  sins  clearly  and  fairly  taught 
by  the  apostles.  He  ventured  to  read  the  portions 
of  Scripture  containing  this  truth  in  the  presence  of 
his  family.  They  "pitched  into  "  him.  "  There,  you 
have  gone  and  got  one  of  those  Campbellite  testa- 
ments, which  they  have  made  just  to  suit  their  doc- 
trine !  I  wonder  you  are  not  afraid  to  have  it  about 
you.  That  reads  so,  of  course,  and  teaches  the  doc- 
trine, for  they  made  it  so."  Shepherd  smiled,  but  only 
inwardly,  willing  to  bear  the  reproach,  for  he  wished 
to  enjoy  the  joke  a  little  longer.  At  length,  he  asked 
them  to  take  the  old  family  Bible,  which  they  were 
sure  contained  no  such  awful  heresy,  and  carefully 
compare  the  two.  They. consented,  and  the  compari- 
son began.  Passage  after  passage  was  slowly  read 
over,  word  by  word.  To  their  utter  amazement  and 
confusion  the  good  old  trusty  Bible  actually  con- 
tained the  very  words  and  language,  and  of  course 
the  doctrine,  denounced  as  "  Campbellism  !"  What 


382  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


was  to  be  done  ?  They  could  scarcely  believe  their 
own  eyes.  His  testament  was  then  examined.  It  was 
found  to  contain  the  imprint  of  the  "  American  Bible 
Society!"  They  saw  the  "situation" — their  igno- 
rance of  their  own  Bible  and  its  plain  teaching.  He 
relished  their  confusion,  but  was  generous  enough  to 
listen  to  their  earnest  and  repeated  charges  to  "  tell 
nobody!"  But  it  told  itself.  They  came  out  to 
hear,  and  all  of  them  obeyed  the  gospel,  despite  pro- 
tests, vows,  and  cautions,  choosing  nobly  and  rightly 
to  obey  God  rather  than  man. 

Another  incident  is  related  of  a  woman  of  good 
sense  and  intelligence,  who  came  to  Aurora  from  the 
State  of  New  York  to  visit  her  relatives.  She  was 
at  once  told  of  the  new  heresy — that  they  took  the 
people,  and  if  they  just  said  they  believed,  they  bap- 
tized them  without  any  change  of  heart,  and  then 
they  were  sure  of  heaven. 

This  woman,  in  deep  astonishment,  said  :  "  Surely 
they  get  no  persons  of  intelligence  or  respectability 
to  follow  them  ? "  "  O,  yes,  some  of  the  best  and 
most  substantial  people  in  town  are  among  their  con- 
verts." She  replied,  "  There  is  certainly  something 
wrong  about  this  ;  for  no  person  of  common  sense 
can  believe  such  things  as  you  tell  me  they  preach  : 
I  must  hear  them  myself."  She  went,  heard,  saw  the 
truth,  obeyed  it,  and  returned  home  rejoicing  in  the 
new  light  of  gospel  truth  which  shone  upon  her 
heart. 

Rise  of  the  Congregation  in  Stowe. 
In  1 83 1,  the  gospel  was  introduced  into  Stowe  by 
William  Hayden.    David  Darrow  was  the  first  fruit. 
All  who  knew  him  counted  him  just  the  man  to 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


383 


break  ground.  Honest,  frank  and  decided,  he  grasped 
the  gospel  with  wonderful  energy.  The  cause  owed 
much  to  his  zeal  and  decision.  John  Henry  was 
also  early  on  the  ground.  At  one  time  Henry,  Hay- 
den,  and  E.  Williams  met  here  by  agreement,  when 
many  heard  the  truth  and  several  converts  were 
gained.  Rev.  A.  Bronson,  presiding  elder  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  had  an  appointment  in  the  house  at 
the  same  time.  No  little  stir  was  created,  as  the 
militant  elder  had  already  gained  a  reputation  for 
zeal  against  the  disciples.  He  used  every  opportunity 
to  attack  the  new  doctrine,  as  he  represented  it.  In 
this  case  the  appointment  of  these  brethren  was 
prior  to  his,  but  they  yielded  to  his  contentious  de- 
termination, and  sat  down  to  hear  him.  In  opening, 
he  announced  with  full  voice  the  hymn  : 

"Jesus,  great  Shepherd  of  thy  sheep, 
To  thee  for  help  we  fly, 
Thy  little  flock  in  safety  keep, 
For  O,  the  wolf  is  nigh !  " 

No  one  doubted  to  whom  he  meant  to  apply  the 
term  wolf.  But  like  the  terms  orthodoxy  and  heter- 
odoxy, its  meaning  depends  much  on  who  uses  it. 
The  shrill-voiced  singers  in  the  audience,  looking  up 
to  the  large,  dark  form  of  the  preacher,  sang  M  wolf  " 
as  well  as  he.  Henry,  in  reporting  it,  said  they  all 
sung  "wolf,"  "wolf,"  but  himself;  and  he  neither 
sung  wolf  nor  howled !  The  sermon  which  followed 
was  a  perversion  of  the  views  of  the  disciples.  But 
ample  correction  followed,  and  the  cause  of  reform 
gained  by  the  opportunity. 

In  September,  1833,  Green  preached  here  and  bap- 
tized his  first  convert.    The  cause  gained  constantly, 


384  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


forcing  its  advancement  through  intense  opposition 
Students,  and  occasionally  a  professor,  from  Hudson 
college,  only  a  few  miles  distant,  practiced  their  skill 
in  attempted  refutation  of  an  imaginary  novelty  which 
they  styled  "  Campbellism."  The  converts,  however 
were  too  well  grounded  in  the  Scriptures  to  be 
alarmed  by  these  misdirected  assaults.  If  the  school- 
houses  were  closed,  private  houses  were  opened 
The  Darrows,  the  Sawyers,  the  Starks,  the  Stowes 
the  Thomases,  the  Lindsays,  and  the  Gaylords  received 
the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  and  soon  united  to  sustain 
meetings  on  the  Lord's  day.  In  June,  1834,  Timothy 
Wallace  obeyed  the  gospel  in  Aurora,  at  the  yearly 
meeting.  These  principles  were  making  progress  at 
the  same  time,  and  by  the  same  agencies,  in  Frank- 
lin, and  in  Hudson  township.  In  the  north-west  part 
of  Hudson,  Williams  and  Hayden  were  successful  in 
teaching  the  people  the  difference  between  the  church 
of  Christ  founded  on  the  New  Covenant,  and  all  ec- 
clesiastical organizations  established  on  human  foun- 
dations. Zina  Post  and  his  family,  with  his  son-in- 
law,  Bro.  A.  E.  Foote,  "  hearing,  believed  and  were 
baptized  ;"  Sherman  Oviatt  also,  and  others,  in  such 
numbers  that  they  founded  a  church  there  which  con- 
tinued many  years.  In  Franklin  the  Converses,  the 
Wadsworths,  the  Clapps,  and  the  Burts  were  the  be- 
ginning of  the  congregation  known  afterward  as  the 
church  in  Kent. 

Among  the  proclaimers  who  aided  in  planting  the 
churches  of  Stowe,  Hudson,  and  Kent,  were  Allerton, 
Hubbard  and  F.  Williams  also,  of  Ravenna.  Wm. 
Hayden  and  A.  B.  Green  were  the  most  frequently 
with  them.    Several  times  in  the  great  yearly  meet- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


385 


ings  Bro.  D.  S.  Burnett,  of  Cincinnati,  has  plead  here, 
with  his  great  abilities,  the  claims  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Over  the  most  of  this  region  the  sentiments  of 
Universalism  prevailed.  With  these  the  principles 
of  the  gospel  came  in  sharp  collision  ;  constantly  in 
private,  and  several  times  in  public,  there  were  dis- 
cussions on  the  subject.  A  debate  of  several  days 
was  held  in  Franklin  between  A.  B.  Green  and  Rev. 
Davis,  which  opened  the  eyes  of  many  to  the  dan- 
gers of  the  slippery  rock  on  which  they  were  stand- 
ing, and  led  them  to  Christ. 

After  several  years,  the  church  in  Stowe  suspended 
meetings  as  the  result  of  removal  and  other  causes. 
But  the  remaining  members  kept  the  fire  burning, 
and  a  reorganization  of  the  church  was  made  Janu- 
ary 9th,  1844.  It  was  effected  during  a  meeting 
held  by  Charles  F.  Bartlett,  J.  P.  Robison  and  A.  S. 
Hayden.  The  members  then,  were  David  Darrow, 
Zebulun  Stowe,  Eli  Gaylord,  B.  Stark,  C.  Thomas, 
J.  C.  Willis,  Datus  E.  Lendsay  and  Constant  Rogers, 
with  their  wives,  and  Miss  C.  Stark — sixteen  mem- 
bers. In  April,  1873,  twenty-nine  years  after,  it  had 
one  hundred  and  twenty  members. 

This  church  has  long  been  a  light  to  the  county. 
With  lavish  hospitality  the  members  have  repeatedly 
welcomed  the  great  Tent  meetings,  and  have  been 
richly  repaid  in  the  fruits  of  edification  and  conver- 
sion. Among  its  honorable  and  most  useful  names 
now  gone  to  rest,  should  be  mentioned  David 
Darrow,  Zebulun  Stowe  and  Edwin  Wetmore,  faithful 
leaders,  who  long,  zealously,  and  cheerfully  gave  a 
powerful  support  to  the  cause.  These,  with  the  names 
of  many  others,  are  cherished  in  grateful  hearts. 
33 


386  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


As  resident  preachers,  they  have  had  W.  T.  Horner, 
S.  R.  Willard,  A.  C.  Bartlett,  H.  J.  White;  while 
scarcely  any  of  the  preachers  known  in  north-eastern 
Ohio  can  be  named  who  have  not  aided  them  in  meet- 
ings. This  church  is  the  religious  birth-home  of 
L.  Southmayd  and  J.  C.  Stark,  brethren  who  have 
done,  and  are  still  doing,  effective  service  as  preachers 
of  the  gospel. 

Her  present  elders  are  U.  Marvin,  A.  S.  Wheeler, 
and  William  Southmayd.  Deacons,  A.  C.  Stowe, 
J.  R.  Ream,  and  L.  Hartle.  They  have  sustained  a 
lively  Sunday-school  for  twenty  years,  and  have  a 
valuable  church  property  with  a  parsonage. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE 


387 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Origin  of  the  Church  in  Bedford — Yearly  Meetings — Sermon  by  A. 
Campbell — Bartlett — Robison — Jones — Prominent  Preachers — 
The  Gospel  in  Newburg — Great  Yearly  Meeting — Quarterly 
Meeting — Incidents. 

THE  congregation  in  Bedford  arose  in  the  follow- 
ing manner:  E.  Williams  came  in  May,  1830, 
and  preached  the  way  of  salvation,  where  formerly 
he  had  taught  Restorationism.  Newell  C.  Barnum 
was  the  first  convert.  He  came  monthly  during  the 
summer ;  and  in  June,  Enoch  Allen  and  some  others 
were  baptized.  In  July,  Mrs.  William  Williams,  of 
Newburg,  Livonia  Payne,  "  Grandmother  Barnum," 
Julia  Barnum,  and  Laura  Gould  came  in.  In  the 
fall,  Wm.  Hayden  held  a  meeting  and  baptized  eight, 
and  from  this  time  he  held  the  ground.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1832,  he  held  a  meeting  with  Bro.  Moss,  and  in 
the  following  month  he  formed  the  church  with 
twenty  members.  Thomas  Marble  was  chosen  the 
overseer,  and  Enoch  Allen  and  Geo.  M.  Payne,  dea- 
cons. Bro.  Green,  on  his  first  tour  of  preaching, 
came  in  September,  1833.  The  next  year  Moss  be- 
came a  resident  of  Bedford,  and  for  five  years  he  as- 
sembled with  them  and  taught  many. 

In  August,  1835,  a  new  appointment  of  officers 
took  place.  Allen  Robinett  and  Enoch  Allen  were 
elected  overseers  ;  Samuel  Barnes,  N.  C.  Barnum,  and 
W.  W.  Walker,  deacons.  These  served  till  December, 
1837,  when  Sidney  Smith  and  James  Young  were 


388  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


chosen  to  serve  as  the  bishops,  and  Enoch  Allen, 
Alanson  Gray,  George  Comstock,  and  Charles  F. 
Bartlett,  who  was  baptized  the  month  before,  came 
in  as  deacons. 

In  July,  1840,  James  Young  and  Sidney  Smith 
were  re-appointed  elders,  together  with  C.  F.  Bartlett 
and  R.  S.  Benedict,  while  the  ever-faithful  Enoch 
Allen  continued  to  serve  the  church  as  a  deacon,  his 
co-deacons  being  now  S.  F.  Lockwood,  Augustine 
Collins,  and  S.  A.  Hathaway.  The  congregation  had 
now  become  numerous,  and  in  her  board  of  rulers 
were  men  of  much  solidity  and  judgment. 

The  year  1837  was  one  of  marked  prosperity  for 
the  church.  In  August,  James  Young  and  his  wife 
united,  also  Dr.  J.  P.  Robison,  Sidney  Smith,  and 
others,  whose  position  gave  weight  to  their  influence. 
In  November,  Chas.  F.  Bartlett  and  John  S.  Young 
came  to  Christ.  Two  of  these,  Robison  and  Bart- 
lett, arose  to  extensive  usefulness  as  proclaimers  of 
the  gospel.  About  thirty  souls  united  between 
August  and  December.  The  church,  thus  lifted  up 
to  great  strength,  and  filled  with  a  zeal  "according 
to  knowledge,"  added  constantly  to  her  numbers, 
seldom  a  week  passing  without  accessions. 

The  year  1838  was  no  less  prosperous.  In  March, 
of  this  year,  James  Egbert,  moving  in  from  Salem, 
and  finding  the  liberty  of  the  gospel  as  a  ground  of 
union  and  fellowship  among  Christians  more  con- 
genial to  his  views  than  the  creed  basis  of  his 
former  profession,  he  gave  up  the  sect  for  the  church 
of  Christ.  Mrs.  Fanny  Willis,  a  person  of  intelli- 
gence, and  a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 


IN  THE  WESTERN   RESERVE.  389 

laid  aside  the  name  and  terms  of  party  in  favor  of 
the  union  of  Christians  in  the  new  covenant. 

This  enterprising  church  opened  a  "  door  of  faith" 
in  school-houses  and  private  dwellings,  in  all  avail- 
able places,  and  by  unremitting  appeals  the  com- 
munity became  thoroughly  leavened. 

The  yearly  meeting  for  Cuyahoga  County  was  held 
with  the  church  in  Bedford,  in  the  year  1839,  its  first 
assembling  in  that  town.  It  was  held  on  the  Lord's 
day  beside  the  meeting-house  which  was  erected  by 
the  generosity  of  Sister  Willis,  a  house  intended  for 
the  use  of  the  Baptists,  but  which,  with  her  change 
of  views,  became  the  property  of  the  Disciples.  This 
house  was  filled  on  Friday  the  first  day  of  the  meet- 
ing. After  a  discourse  by  Bro.  J.  Hartzel,  and  an 
exhortation  by  Bro.  M.  Bosworth,  Bro.  Campbell  fol- 
lowed with  a  eulogium  of  much  power,  beauty,  and 
eloquence  on  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

This  meeting  was  noteworthy  for  several  reasons  : 
The  principal  men  of  the  Western  Reserve  who  had 
risen  up  for  the  advocacy  of  the  gospel  were  present. 
Some  came  from  Canada  and  the  State  of  New  York. 
Bro.  Joseph  S.  Havener,  now  of  Barnwell  District, 
S.  C,  then  young,  recently  arrived  from  Ireland, 
added  interest  by  his  gentle  and  genial  speech.  But 
the  overmastering  attraction  of  the  occasion  was 
due  to  the  presence  and  discourses  of  Mr.  Camp- 
bell. With  all  the  great  powers  of  his  manhood  in 
full  energy,  he  came  before  the  vast  auditory  as  comes 
a  man  only  once  in  an  age.  His  attendance  at  the 
first  yearly  meeting  in  the  county,  in  Newburg,  in 
1835,  at  the  still  greater  occasion  at  Euclid,  in  1837, 
and  more  especially  his  defeat  of  the  allied  forces 


390  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

of  infidelity  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  in  June,  1836, 
gave  him  a  reputation  all  along  this  region  of  the 
lakes,  as  the  first  and  ablest  of  living  orators. 

His  discourse  on  Saturday  was  from  Jer.  vi :  16: 
"Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the  ways,  and 
see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good 
way,  and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your 
souls.  But  they  said,  We  will  not  walk  therein." 
This  subject  was  taken  at  the  instance  of  Cyrus 
Bosworth,  and  grandly  did  he  plead  that  day  for  a 
return  to  "the  good  old  way"  of  the  Savior  and  his 
apostles.  On  Lord's  day  he  held  the  great  audience 
of  five  thousand  in  fixed  attention  for  two  and  a  half 
hours  by  the  watch,  in  a  discussion  of  the  atone- 
ment, a  theme  offering  little  attraction  to  a  popular 
assembly.  Yet  he  made  this  difficult  subject  so 
luminous  with  his  rich  stores  of  biblical  learning, 
that  time  passed  unconsciously  to  his  listening  audi- 
tors, very  many  of  whom,  for  want  of  seats,  stood 
the  whole  time  of  the  sermon. 

This  discourse  was  regarded  as  very  able  by  those 
best  capable  of  judging,  yet  it  was  valued  less  on 
account  of  its  eloquence  than  for  the  scriptural  light 
it  shed  on  this  most  important  subject.  Instead  of 
the  partial  views  of  it  taken  by  many,  Mr.  Campbell 
surveyed  the  whole  field.  He  viewed  it  not  merely 
as  intended  to  propitiate  God,  and  so  to  procure 
favor  for  man,  nor  chiefly  as  a  motive  to  lead  man  to 
repentance.  He  rose  above  all  scholastic  philoso- 
phies, and  treated  the  sacrifice  of  our  holy  Redeemer 
as  having  a  relation 

To  God ; 

To  his  government ; 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


391 


To  Sin  ; 

To  the  Sinner ;  and 
To  the  suffering  Savior  ; 
and  discussed  all  these  bearings  of  the  subject  in 
the  clear  light  of  the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  effect  of  this  sermon  was  immediate  and  salu- 
tary. It  presented  this  vital  theme  in  a  breadth 
and  comprehension  in  which  few,  perhaps  none,  had 
been  accustomed  to  view  it ;  it  asserted  clearly  and 
convincingly  the  death  of  Christ  as  a  sacrifice,  es- 
sential to  the  salvation  of  sinners ;  it  vindicated  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  their  teaching  on  that  subject,  so 
often  objected  to  by  skeptics  ;  it  delivered  the  minds 
of  his  hearers  from  limited  views,  and  opened  to 
them  the  richness  and  extent  of  the  subject  to  which 
they  were  not  accustomed,  and  greatly  exalted  Christ 
and  his  salvation  in  the  conceptions  of  the  people. 
It  set  the  pleadings  for  reformation  on  a  new  and 
solid  basis,  and  greatly  enhanced  the  importance  of 
it  as  distinguished  from  the  limited  creed  views  of 
the  religious  parties.  It  may  well  be  doubted  if  Mr. 
Campbell  ever  delivered  a  sermon  of  greater  power, 
or  of  more  direct  and  useful  purpose.  There  were 
twenty-six  converts  at  this  meeting. 

Three  years  afterward,  September  2,  1842,  the 
great  anniversary  was  again  in  Bedford.  The  first 
tent  prepared  by  the  brotherhood  for  these  yearly 
gatherings  was  now  brought  into  use.  The  brethren 
of  Bedford  stirred  themselves  to  have  it  ready  for 
this  occasion,  and  the  ample  canvas  afforded  protec  - 
tion from  the  falling  rains.  Bentley,  W.  Hayden, 
Robison,  O'Connor,  and  A.  S.  Hayden,  resident  in 
the  county,  were  present ;  and  from  other  counties, 


392  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Henry,  of  Trumbull ;  Collins,  of  Geauga  ;  Green,  of 
Summit ;  Lanphear,  of  Medina ;  J.  H.  Jones,  of 
Wayne ;  Arny,  of  Bethany,  Virginia ;  besides  Moss, 
Cooley,  and  Lillie.  This  was  Bro.  Jones'  introduc- 
tion to  the  Western  Reserve.  He  became  immedi- 
ately identified  with  all  our  religious  work.  At  this 
meeting  the  blessed  gospel  gave  abundant  proof  of 
its  power  to  turn  the  people  to  the  Lord,  fifty-four 
coming  penitently  to  Jesus  Christ.  This  was  the 
largest  number  yet  received  at  any  of  these  meetings. 
Brethren  Henry  and  Jones  were  the  Jupiter  and 
Mercurius  of  the  meeting,  and  their  talents  formed  a 
good  combination  for  public  effect.  Henry  came  as 
a  storm ;  he  spoke  with  authority,  calling  to  repent- 
ance with  the  fire  and  zeal  of  Elijah  ;  while  Jones 
flowed  in  exhortations  of  persuasive  tenderness, 
which  gained  all  ears  and  won  many  hearts. 

He  was  born  June  15,  181 3,  lived  for  a  time  in 
Brookfield,  Trumbull  County,  then  became  resident 
with  his  parents  in  the  county  of  Wayne,  where  he 
was  nourished  up  in  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Bap- 
tist churches.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  heard  the 
gifted  John  Secrest,  near  Bucyrus,  on  the  waters  of 
the  Whetstone,  where  he  confessed  his  faith  in  Christ. 
From  that  day  he  was  the  Lord's.  He  traveled 
awhile  with  Secrest ;  immediately  and  every-where 
exhorting  sinners  to  "  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come." 
He  improved  by  the  ardent  and  persuasive  manner 
of  that  bold  and  successful  preacher,  and,  like  him, 
he  excelled  in  touching  the  heart,  and  bringing  souls 
into  the  kingdom. 

But  all  hearts  were  warm  then,  and  each  one  was 
ready  with  a  word   in  season,  an  exhortation,  a 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


393 


prayer,  or  a  stirring  song  to  sustain  the  life  and  an- 
imation of  the  meetings.  The  memory  of  those 
scenes  is  inspiring  to  the  heart.  They  were  joyful 
with  holy  enthusiasm,  and  the  new  converts  were 
filled  with  hope.  The  hymns — and  all  sung  them — 
were,  many  of  them,  millennial  in  sentiment  ;  and 
held  to  the  heart  the  hope  of  the  coming  of  the 
Lord,  and  of  the  glory  to  be  soon  revealed.  Some 
described  the  day  of  judgment  in  such  pathos  and 
power,  as  to  fasten  conviction  on  many  souls.  So 
great  was  the  ardor  and  zeal,  that  the  gospel  in  some 
of  its  great  themes  was  the  subject  of  general  con- 
versation in  private  houses,  as  well  as  of  discourse 
in  public  assemblies. 

This  congregation  has  ripened  many  souls  for  the 
eternal  kingdom.  Among  those  deserving  a  record 
is  Bro.  Charles  F.  Bartlett,  who,  immediately  on  his 
conversion  in  the  autumn  of  1837,  was  called  by  his 
brethren  to  positions  of  responsibility,  first  as  a 
deacon,  then  as  an  elder.  Possessed  of  a  genial  and 
affable  manner,  with  a  social  and  warm  heart,  and 
ready  in  speech,  his  improvement  was  so  satisfac- 
tory that  on  the  22d  of  May,  1842,  he  was  called  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  His  influence  increased 
constantly.  He  preached  in  surrounding  churches, 
every-where  respected  and  beloved.  But  his  life  was 
cut  short  in  the  midst  of  his  days.  On  the  5th  of 
February,  1848,  he  went  to  his  reward.  His  cheer- 
ful, companionable  manners  and  unstinted  hospital- 
ity, won  him  many  friends.  The  mourning  for  him 
was  deep  and  general.  He  sustained  himself  from 
his  farm  while  laboring  for  the  good  of  others. 


394  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Like  most  of  the  early  preachers,  the  warfare  was 
mostly  at  his  own  charges. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Robison,  whose  accession  as  a  member 
occurred  August  20,  1837,  soon  became  a  leader  by 
the  concurrent  wish  of  the  congregation.  His  intel- 
lectual and  social  qualities,  together  with  his  talent 
for  business  management,  naturally  brought  him  to 
the  front.  Few  were  the  enterprises  which  ren- 
dered this  church  numerous,  which  were  not  either 
prompted  or  led  on  by  him.  Ready  to  serve,  as  well  as 
prompt  to  direct,  with  the  co-operation  of  the  gener- 
ous helps  in  the  church  who  stood  with  him,  Bed- 
ford rapidly  became  a  radiating  center.  Bro.  Robi- 
son yielded  to  the  unanimous  voice  of  his  brethren, 
and  on  the  25th  of  October,  1840,  he  was  appointed 
and  ordained  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 

For  several  years  he  "  gave  himself  wholly  to  the 
work."  For  it  he  laid  aside  an  extensive  ride  as 
physician,  a  profession  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful ;  and,  until  driven  from  the  field  by  scanty 
support,  an  experience  which  he  shared  in  common 
with  others,  he  preached  extensively,  and  brought 
many  converts  into  the  churches.  Throughout  the 
Western  Reserve,  in  Pittsburgh,  Bethany,  and  Cin- 
cinnati, he  became  known  by  his  zeal  and  success. 
He  labored  with  all  the  preachers,  but  Bro.  J.  H. 
Jones  and  "  the  Doctor,"  associated  in  meetings 
more  than  others.  "  During  the  animating  period  of 
the  "holy  war,"  from  1840  to  1844,  these  evangel- 
ists proclaimed  the  glad  tidings  with  unbounded  suc- 
cess. Their  work  was  heroic — their  dispatches  Na- 
poleonic. The  following  from  the  Doctor's  hand  are 
good  specimens  of  the  life  and  spirit  of  the  times  : 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


395 


"Allegheny,  21st  Feb.,  1842. 

"  Dear  Bro.  Hayden: 

"  Yours  is  to  hand.  I  am  quite  happy  to  learn  that  the 
good  cause  is  still  progressing  in  the  land  of  my  friends. 
We  have  a  great  excitement  here.  Many  are  inquiring, 
and  many  are  astonished  at  the  doctrine.  Up  to  this 
time  the  converts  number  fifty-seven,*  and  the  brethren 
on  the  other  side  are  waiting  with  great  anxiety  for  us  to 
come  over  and  help  them.  They  think  there  never  was 
the  like  of  Bro.  Jones,  and  well  may  they,  for  he  waxes 
warmer  and  bolder  in  the  good  cause.  All  the  friends 
are  in  health.  I  may  get  to  see  you  in  Wellsburg.  I  will, 
the  Lord  willing,  be  at  Ohio  City  the  third  Lord's  day 
in  March.  When  will  you  be  in  Wellsburg,  and  how 
long?  I  hope  to  go  to  Bethany.  I  have  said  something 
to  them  on  the  prophecies ;  so  has  Bro.  Jones,  who  backed 
me  up.  My  love  to  all  who  love  the  appearing  of  our 
blessed  Lord. 

"Yours  in  the  hope, 

"J.  P.  Robison." 

"Bedford,  October  6,  1842. 

"Dear  Bro.  Hayden: 

"I  get  joyful  news  from  Euclid.  I  hear  from  twenty 
to  thirty  are  immersed.  I  have  been  with  you  for  days  in 
the  spirit  of  the  great  turning  to  the  Lord.  Bro.  Collins 
and  myself  are  to  be  in  Ohio  City,  the  Lord  willing,  on 
Friday  two  weeks.  We  would  be  happy  to  see  you  there 
for  a  few  days,  or  some  time  during  our  stay.  Please  ride 
up  if  you  can. 

"What  do  you  think  of  the  Canada  excursion?  We 
ought  to  let  those  dear  friends  know  beforehand  if  we  go. 


*  There  were  one  hundred  and  forty-two  converts  in  the  meeting  ; 
thirty  of  them  in  Pittsburgh 


39^ 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


(<  I  am  very  busy  bringing  my  business  to  a  close.  May 
the  Lord  bless  you  and  strengthen  you  with  all  strength. 
I  feel  for  you,  and  should  have  been  over  ere  this  if  I  had 
been  more  propitiously  circumstanced.  But  those  bright 
'  stars' — heaven  alone  can  reward  your  exertions. 
"Yours  in  the  blessed  hope, 

"J.  P.  Robison." 

The  following  relates  to  the  planting  of  the  church 
in  Munson,  which  arose  chiefly  by  the  labors  of  Bro. 
Robison.  It  was  written  the  day  fixed  by  Mr. 
Miller  and  his  friends  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord 
and  the  end  of  the  world  : 

"Bedford,  id  April,  1843. 

"  Dear  Bro.  Hayden  : 

"I  am  just  home  from  Munson  where  I  got  seventy- 
six  additions.  I  am,  as  you  may  calculate,  nearly  ex- 
hausted, after  speaking  almost  incessantly  for  ten  days. 
But  the  Lord  be  praised  for  his  goodness,  and  mercy,  and 
long-suffering,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish. 

"  Bro.  Hayden,  I  want  to  see  you.  If  I  knew  you  to  be 
at  home,  I  think  I  would  almost  come  over.  You  have 
heard,  no  doubt,  of  the  Ohio  City  thirty.  I  have  get 
since  I  returned  home  from  Pittsburgh,  one  hundred  and 
twelve  in  all — four  Lord's  days. 

"Yours  in  the  Beloved, 

"J.  P.  Robison." 

"P.  S.  The  3d  of  April  is  past,  and  we  are  still  to 
*  cleanse  the  sanctuary '  by  preaching  the  gospel,  I  sup- 
pose. J.  P.  R." 

"  Akron,  February  2,  1844. 

"  Dear  Bro.  Hayden  : 

"I  am  at  Akron — have  been  here  since  Wednesday. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


397 


Spoke  three  times,  and  baptized  fifty;  among  which  are 
Mr.  Pickands  and  family.  Speak  this  evening,  and  start 
in  the  morning  for  Wooster.  Bro.  Cock  had  left  some 
four  days  before  I  reached  here.  Pray  for  me,  Bro.  Hay- 
den.  I  wish  you  was  here.  The  brethren  are  happy — 
Middlebury  brethren  and  all.  We  have  a  happy  time. 
M  Yours  in  the  hope  of  Jesus  Christ, 

"J.  P.  ROBISON." 

"  P.  S.    My  love  to  Bro.  Fitch. 

"  Spoke  this  evening — fourteen  more.  Baptize  at  eight 
in  the  morning,  and  then  start  for  Wooster. 

"J.  P.  R." 

The  church  was  sustained  by  its  internal  strength, 
and  by  aid  from  abroad  in  yearly  meetings  and  pro- 
tracted meetings,  till  the  year  1856,  when  Bro.  J.  O. 
Beardslee  was  secured  to  labor  in  the  congregation. 
He  preached  till  his  appointment  as  a  missionary  to 
Jamaica.  After  him,  the  church  has  been  served 
successively  by  J.  H.  Jones,  E.  H.  Hawley,  Hiram 
Woods,  A.  B.  Green,  and  Robt.  Moffett. 

As  overseers,  she  has  had  Thomas  Marble,  Allen 
Robinett,  Enoch  Allen,  Sidney  Smith,  J.  P.  Rob- 
ison,  James  Young,  C.  F.  Bartlett,  R.  S.  Benedict, 
S.  F.  Lockwood,  Augustine  Collins,  Samuel  Barnes, 
James  Egbert,  W.  B.  Hillman,  A.  T.  Hubbell,  A. 
Drake,  R.  J.  Hathaway,  Hiram  Woods. 

For  nearly  twenty  years  the  Board  of  managers  of 
the  Ohio  State  Missionary  Society  was  located  in 
Bedford,  of  which  Dr.  Robison  was  the  continued 
chairman ;  and  this  enterprising  church  has  always 
contributed  liberally  to  sustain  the  missionary  work. 
The  number  of  members  rose  at  one  time  to  nearly 
five  hundred — it  is  now  considerably  diminished. 


398  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Sketch  of  our  Missionary,  J.  O.  Beardslee. 

He  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Ct.,  September  n,  1814. 
In  his  fourteenth  year  he  united  with  the  Congregational 
church,  and  was  sprinkled  at  the  time.  He  would  have 
preferred  immersion,  but  that  church  would  not  immerse 
him  ;  nor  would  the  Baptists,  unless  he  joined  them, 
which  would,  by  their  rules,  exclude  him  from  "  fellow- 
ship" with  other  Christians.  In  this  dilemma  he  pre- 
ferred to  him  the  least  objectionable  course. 

He  entered  the  Western  Reserve  College  in  Hudson,  in 
1833,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  His  antislavery  pro- 
clivities took  him  to  Oberlin  when  presidents  Mahan  and 
Finney  assumed  control  there.  His  class  of  four  was  the 
first  that  graduated  in  that  institution,  in  1837.  His 
studies  were  all  in  view  of  the  ministry,  and  before  he  left 
Hudson  he  had  his  heart  on  some  foreign  mission  as  his 
ultimate  purpose.  While  in  Oberlin  he  gathered  some 
converts,  one  of  whom  was  afterward  his  co-laborer  in  Ja- 
maica. In  pursuit  of  better  health,  he  took  a  voyage  to 
that  island,  in  1838,  just  after  the  emancipation  of  the 
300,000  slaves  on  the  island.  Inspired  by  the  congenial 
climate,  and,  still  more  by  the  necessities  of  that  people, 
he  felt  that  Providence  had  selected  this  as  his  field  of 
life  work.  He  returned,  collected  funds  in  Connecticut 
and  Ohio;  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  Mt.  Vernon, 
Ohio,  and  sailed  again  for  Jamaica.  For  the  first  seven 
years  his  receipts  from  abroad  were  only  three  hundred 
dollars.  He  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  Normal  In- 
stitution, under  the  auspices  of  the  British  Board  of  Man- 
agers, for  fitting  native  teachers.  This  post  he  held  seven 
years,  and  resigned  it  to  take  charge  of  the  Mission 
church  in  Kingston,  in  connection  with  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society.  He  lost  his  companion  in  1847  >  and 
married  again  in  Kingston,  in  1848. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


399 


His  change  of  views,  and  of  ecclesiastical  position,  I 
can  give  from  his  own  pen  i 

"When  I  left  Jamaica  in  1855,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  I  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  immersion 
of  believers  was  the  only  authoritative  baptism.  After  a 
time,  I  accepted  the  charge  of  a  small  Congregational 
church  at  Rawsonville,  (Grafton,)  a  village  comprising 
representatives  of  several  denominations,  no  one  of  them 
being  able  to  support  a  preacher.  This  led  me  to  search 
for  some  basis  of  union.  I  preached  on  the  subject  ; 
and,  without  knowing  the  position  of  the  Disciples  on 
that  point,  I  presented  what  I  afterward  found  to  be  pre- 
cisely their  views  as  the  only  true  basis  of  Christian  unity. 
It  was  to  satisfy  the  scruples  of  a  young  lady  on  the  sub- 
ject of  no  creed  and  infant  baptism,  that  I  was  led  to  re- 
view the  whole  matter ;  and  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
I  ought  to  be  immersed  forthwith  in  obedience  to  the 
command  of  Christ.  I  applied  to  Elder  Nesbitt,  a  Bap- 
tist, who  resided  in  Grafton,  to  baptize  me.  He  could 
not  attend  to  it  for  two  weeks,  and  I  went  to  Wellington 
to  see  a  Baptist  preacher  there.  But  as  he  would  not  im- 
merse me  except  on  condition  of  my  uniting  with  the  Bap- 
tists, I  concluded  to  wait  for  Elder  Nesbitt.  I  made 
known  my  intentions  to  the  church,  and  met  with  no  op- 
position. On  the  23d  of  March,  1856,  I  was  buried  with 
my  Lord  in  baptism.  Before  leaving  the  water,  I  im- 
mersed the  young  lady  referred  to  and  another  convert. 
I  was  then  on  the  eve  of  a  change  of  location,  having 
accepted  a  call  from  the  Congregational  church  in  Colla- 
mer,  with  which,  and  its  results  you  are  familiar." 

Bro.  Beardslee  came  to  enter  on  his  engagement  in 
Collamer,  and  after  his  first  sermon,  which  was  on  a  prac- 
tical theme,  he  frankly  made  known  his  change  of  senti- 
ments; he  was  willing  to  fraternize  with  them,  and  they 
would  probably  have  borne  with  his  baptism,  as  they  were 
much  pleased  with  him.    But  on  learning,  in  answer  to  a 


400  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

direct  question,  that  he  could  not  conscientiously  christen 
their  children,  they  reconsidered  their  call,  and,  by  a 
small  majority,  rescinded  it.  Thus,  and  for  this  reason, 
turned  away  by  that  people  from  their  fraternity,  he  came 
that  Lord's  day  evening  to  hear  me,  and  there  com- 
menced our  mutual  and  cordial  acquaintance. 

Meantime  William  Hayden  had  heard  of  him,  and  of 
his  baptism  by  Elder  Nesbitt.  He  went  to  Bro.  S.  R. 
Willard,  and  urged  him  to  go  at  once  and  make  known  to 
him  our  plea  and  ground  of  union.  Bro.  Willard  was 
prompt  to  visit  him,  and  his  message  of  love  was  favor- 
ably received.  Hayden  also  went  to  Bedford,  and  made 
known  the  case  to  Dr.  Robison,  by  whose  influence  the 
church  extended  a  call  to  him  to  visit  them,  with  a  view 
to  settlement  among  them.  "On  the  second  Lord's 
day,"  continues  Beardslee,  "we  were  mutually  prepared 
to  accept  each  other  as  brethren  in  the  common  faith. 
That  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  and  blessed  era  in  my 
life's  history.  Before,  I  had  been  as  he  who  saw  men 
'  as  trees  walking ; 1  now  as  the  same  man  who  saw 
<  clearly.'  " 

From  this  time  his  heart  was  set  to  return  to  Jamaica. 
He  longed  to  reveal  to  them  the  light  which  was  so  clear 
and  joyful  to  him.  Our  general  missionary  society  sent 
him  out,  and  in  January,  1858,  he  set  sail  with  his  family 
from  New  York,  for  Kingston.  He  began  his  labors  in 
that  city,  and  on  the  1st  of  May  he  organized  the  first 
church  on  the  island,  on  the  New  Testament  basis,  with 
seven  members.  The  work  went  on  with  great  success, 
but  amidst  violent  opposition.  In  five  years  there  were 
nine  churches,  and  about  a  thousand  members.  This  was 
followed  by  eighteen  months  of  absence  in  the  United 
States.  The  work  in  the  hands  of  the  native  preachers 
was  less  prosperous.  But  Bro.  Beardslee  returning  again 
to  their  aid,  two  and  a  half  years  of  unremitting  labors 
revived  the  interest,  and  more  than  doubled  the  number 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


401 


of  churches.  Bankruptcy  in  the  missionary  treasury 
compelled  his  surrender  of  this  most  promising  field.  He 
left  Jamaica  in  1868,  greatly  to  the  disparagement  of  the 
mission  work,  as  he  was  the  needed  leader  of  that  great 
work,  of  which  he  had  been  the  father  and  the  founder. 
From  that  time  jto  the  present,  his  efforts  to  collect 
funds  to  enable  him  to  go  to  their  aid  have  only  re- 
sulted in  disappointment  to  him,  and  to  the  greater  disap- 
pointment of  the  expecting  churches  of  the  island. 

Among  the  happy  children  of  this  church  in  Bedford, 
arose  the  benignant  Harry  S.  Glasier,  a  brother,  who,  in 
a  short  time,  won  to  himself  the  sincerest  regards  of  many 
friends.  He  was  born  in  Twinsburg,  November  7,  1836, 
though  reared  in  this  church  as  a  nursing  mother.  He 
graduated  in  Bethany,  July  4,  1863,  and  was  ordained  as 
a  preacher  the  same  day,  by  Bros.  Campbell  and  Bentley. 

His  devotion  and  earnestness  in  preaching  brought  many 
to  repentance.  He  was  gifted  with  a  warm,  friendly 
heart,  was  a  good  talker,  and  never  failed  to  improve  every 
opportunity  for  Christ.  He  married  a  companion  of  equal 
sincerity,  and  well  adapted  to  his  work — Miss  Eliza  E. 
Clapp — and  settled  with  the  church  in  Belair,  Ohio.  The 
congregation  grew  in  numbers  and  religious  feeling  during 
the  three  years  of  his  ministry  there.  He  was  naturally  a 
pastor — "naturally  caring  for  the  state"  of  all  the  mem- 
bers. He  became*  tenderly  attached  to  the  people,  and 
they  to  him  J  so  that  when  death  came  and  seized  him  from 
them,  they  mourned  as  for  a  near  kinsman.  He  went  to 
assist  in  a  meeting  in  Pittsburgh  where  he  fell,  September 
8,  1866.  He  was  carried  and  laid  in  the  cemetery  in  Bed- 
ford. He  left  his  devoted  companion  and  daughter  to 
inherit  his  virtues  and  his  excellent  name. 

Bro.  Glasier  was  frank,  free-hearted,  generous,  and  un- 
selfish ;  attentive  to  all  his-  friends,  and  of  a  very  sympa- 
thetic temperament.    He  served  the  people.    He  served 
his  God,  and  he  took  him  early. 
34 


402  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


The  Congregation  in  Newburg. 

As  far  back  as  1827  and  '8,  Ebenezer  Williams, 
then  an  advocate  of  Restorationism,  gathered  some 
converts  in  Newburg.  When  the  scales  of  that  per- 
nicious speculation  fell  from  his  eyes,  and  he  learned 
the  gospel,  he  sought  to  undo  his  work  there,  and  to 
repair  the  damage.  Some  time  in  the  fall  of  1828, 
he  appeared  among  his  former  admirers,  delivered  a 
few  addresses,  which  awakened  a  marked  interest, 
and  left  without  farther  results. 

In  June,  1832,  the  first  convert  was  gained.  It 
was  under  the  vigorous  appeals  of  the  heroic  W. 
Hayden.  Two  years  before,  he  had  started  a  church 
in  Aurora.  Henry  Baldwin,  of  that  place,  carried  an 
appointment  to  Newburg,  and  urged  his  sister  and 
her  husband,  Col.  John  Wightman,  to  go  and  hear 
this  original  preacher.  A  large  audience  assembled 
in  the  town-house.  Such  preaching  took  them  all 
by  surprise.  It  was  neither  Universalism,  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed,  nor  the  doctrine  of  any 
of  the  religious  parties.  It  was  only  and  simply  the 
gospel  as  taught  in  the  New  Testament. 

Many  saw  the  truth,  but  only  one  man  arose  to 
take  his  lamp  to  meet  the  bridegroom.  This  was 
John  Hopkinson.  He  was  afterward  elder  of  the 
church,  and  stands  yet,*  after  an  interval  of  over 
forty  years,  on  precisely  the  same  ground  assumed 
at  the  beginning.  Hayden  and  Williams  continued 
their  visits,  holding  the  ground,  and  gaining  con- 

*  Bro.  Hopkinson  has  just  fallen  asleep  in  the  hope  of  immor- 
tality. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  403 

verts.  September,  1833,  Wightman  and  wife,  and 
Eliza  Everett,  and  several  others,  were  baptized  by 
Bro.  Williams.  Great  awakening  of  the  people,  and 
farther  conversions  followed.  At  one  of  his  visits 
Williams  baptized  a  young  lady  of  social  attractions, 
by  the  name  of  Julia  Parshall.  She  was  gifted  with 
superior  musical  powers,  and  as  soon  as  she  was 
lifted  above  the  baptismal  water,  she  sang  full  and 
clear : 

"  Now  my  remnant  of  days 

Will  I  spend  to  his  praise 
Who  has  died  my  poor  soul  to  redeem ; 

Whether  many  or  few  ; 

All  my  years  are  his  due, 
They  shall  all  be  devoted  to  him." 

Williams  writes,  "  There  were  more  than  half  a  dozen 
infidels  standing  within  a  few  feet,  who  were  very 
much  moved  by  the  scene." 

The  Disciples  were  filled  with  joy  and  the  Holy 
Spirit.  They  studied  the  Scriptures  daily  and  dili- 
gently to  learn  the  truth  themselves,  and  to  be  able 
to  teach  it  to  others.  They  met  often  for  songs,  and 
prayer,  and  mutual  encouragement,  and  when  a 
preacher  came,  they  had  many  questions  to  pro- 
pound. Thus  light  rapidly  increased,  and  they  be- 
came intelligent  in  the  Christian  religion.  They 
were  zealous  to  propagate  the  gospel  which  shed  so 
much  light  and  joy  on  their  own  souls.  It  was 
common  for  the  Disciples  of  Newburg  to  come  to 
Euclid,  (now  Collamer,)  to  meeting,  a  distance  of 
seven  miles  ;  and  for  these  in  turn  to  attend  at  New- 
burg to  help  the  brethren  there.  Each  was  fille 
with  the  joy  which  inspired  all  the  rest.  Happ 
times  !    Will  they  ever  return  to  gladden  our  hearts  ? 


404  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Such  zeal  with  our  present  numbers  would  in  a 
twelvemonth  set  the  whole  land  ablaze ! 

Society  in  Newburg  was  full  of  infidelity.  But  the 
gospel  never  lost  a  battle.  Strong  arguments  and 
powerful  appeals  from  such  men  as  Hayden,  Hartzel, 
Green,  Allerton,  and  Moss,  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
lasting  work,  and  soon  established  a  church  on  Bible 
principles,  which  has  never  ceased  to  meet,  nor  failed 
to  hold  forth  the  word  of  life. 

The  "yearly  meeting"  for  the  year  1835  was  held 
in  Newburg,  on  the  farm  of  Colonel  Wightman. 
Collins  well  said  of  him,  "  he  was  a  princely  man." 
With  the  noblest  generosity  and  breadth  of  views, 
he  made  provision  both  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
people,  and  for  the  best  business  management  of  the 
occasion,  that  the  widest  possible  benefits  might 
flow  from  it.  It  was  duly  announced  in  Cleveland. 
Prominent  citizens  were  especially  informed  and  in- 
vited. A  grove  was  selected,  seated,  and  covered 
with  boards.  All  the  other  members  also  came 
heartily  to  the  work,  and  there  was  nothing  wanting 
to  make  the  people  welcome.  Bro.  Wightman  lodged 
a  hundred  guests,  and  supplied  provisions  without 
numbering  the  participants  of  his  bounty. 

This  meeting  was  historic.  The  Disciples,  now 
numerous,  came  "from  long  distances.  Discourses 
were  delivered  by  Alex.  Campbell,  Wm.  Hayden,  A. 
B.  Green,  M.  S.  Clapp,  and  a  few  others  ;  and  even- 
ing meetings  were  held  in  neighborhoods  around. 
For  four  days  the  meeting,  like  the  manna  about  Is- 
rael, lay  round  among  the  people,  the  subject  of 
thought  and  conversation  by  all.  A  large  number 
of  converts  were  baptized  on  Monday  by  Bro.  Green. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


405 


At  8  o'clock  Monday  morning,  the  preachers,  at 
Mr.  Campbell's  invitation,  met  him  in  the  rear  of  the 
tent,  to  whom  he  submitted  the  proposition  to  hold 
meetings  for  mutual  improvement.  He  spoke  of  it 
as  a  school  to  be  continued,  in  which  there  should 
be  sermons  delivered,  subject  to  examination  in 
matter  and  style.  It  was  unanimously  approved,  and 
the  first  one  was  appointed  to  be  held  in  New  Lis- 
bon in  the  following  December.  About  fifteen 
preachers  met  with  him  that  morning. 

The  brethren  becoming  now  well  established,  they 
assumed  the  duties  and  prerogatives  of  a  congrega- 
tion of  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ.  From  that 
period  to  the  present,  the  candlestick  has  not  been 
removed. 

None  of  our  churches,  Warren  only  perhaps  ex- 
cepted, had  preachers  or  "pastors"  settled  among 
them.  The  casual  watch-care  and  aid  given  them  by 
the  traveling  ministers,  many  of  whom  were  more 
intent  on  extending  than  building  up  the  churches, 
was  insufficient  to  check  dissensions,  and  to  guard 
the  folds  from  encroaching  dangers.  Many  churches 
suffered  greatly,  and  some  perished.  This  in  New- 
burg  ran  low,  and  its  light  was  nearly  extinct.  In 
their  extremity  they  appealed  to  Bro.  Hartzel,  who 
came  in  April,  1842,  and  immediately  commanded 
attention  by  his  able  statement  and  defense  of  the 
gospel.  He.  lifted  it  above  all  mere  "  church  "  or 
partisan  religions,  and  powerfully  beat  back  the 
forces  of  infidelity,  which  had  grown  strong  and  de- 
fiant. On  Lord's  day,  the  twenty-first  of  that  month, 
he  reorganized  the  church,  with  twenty  old,  and 
fifteen  new  members.     At  this  time  Youngs  L. 


406  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Morgan  and  Caleb  Morgan  came  in  with  their  fami- 
lies. The  congregation  gained  such  strength  that 
soon  after,  under  the  able  ministrations  of  Bro.  J. 
D.  Benedict,  they  built  a  good  house.  They  have 
maintained  a  good  testimony,  and  are  now  flourish- 
ing under  the  labors  of  J.  H.  Jones.  For  many 
years  their  Sunday-school  has  prospered,  and  for  the 
last  few  years  especially,  by  the  skillful  management 
of  Bro.  Browning ;  and  the  children  are  rising  up  to 
take  the  place  of  their  parents  in  handing  down  the 
gospel  uncorrupted  to  generations  after  them. 

Incidents  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  1835. 

On  Saturday  night  some  son  of  Belial  thought  to 
break  up  the  meeting  by  cutting  down  a  large  tree, 
so  its  immense  brushy  top  might  fall  directly  upon 
the  seated  tent.  His  mischief  failed.  The  tree  fell 
merely  along  the  edge  of  it,  displacing  some  of  the 
boards,  but  not  otherwise  doing  any  injury.  The 
incident  probably  added  emphasis  to  many  a  phi- 
lippic against  sin  and  sectarianism.  Mr.  Wightman 
had  no  doubt  who  the  malicious  man  was  who  per- 
petrated the  deed.  He  went  to  him  in  the  morning 
and  said  to  him  :  "  If  it  is  any  satisfaction  to  you  to 
commit  such  depredations,  you  can  do  it  with  the 
assurance  that  you  can  never  incite  me  to  retaliate. 
You  may  depend  on  my  doing  you  a  kindness  when- 
ever it  is  in  my  power." 

Mr.  Wightman's  hospitality  has  been  mentioned. 
Tables  were  carried  out  in  the  yard,  under  the 
shadowing  maples,  plentifully  loaded  with  provisions. 
There  was  neither  stint  in  the  supply  nor  attempt  to 
number  the  people  who  partook  thankfully  the  pro- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


407 


fusion  set  before  them.  After  disposing  of  his  guests 
one  night,  Wightman  came  to  Wm.  Hayden  and 
said :  "  Bro.  Hayden,  the  best  lodging  I  can  give  you 
is  on  the  floor,  for  every  thing  is  full."  "  I  will  not 
sleep  on  your  hard  floor,"  said  the  witty  William. 
So  taking  two  benches  he  placed  them  together  and 
camped  down  on  them,  saying  "  Now  I  am  comforta- 
bly fixed  for  the  night." 


4o8 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Rise  of  the  cause  in  Euclid — Church  formed  by  T.  Campbell — 
Preachers  arising,  and  growing  success — The  Church  in 
Cleveland  established — Planting  of  the  congregation  in  East 
Cleveland. 


HE  first  church  in  Euclid  was  Presbyterian. 


A  Luther  Dille  was  a  member  of  it.  In  1820, 
Elder  Hanks,  a  Baptist,  preached  in  that  town,  and 
Dille,  becoming  convinced  by  the  New  Testament 
that  immersion  was  the  true  baptism,  united  with  the 
Baptists.  Having  buried  his  wife,  he  married,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1828,  Mrs.  Clarissa  Kent,  sister  to  Benjamin 
Blish,  of  Mentor.  She  was  a  disciple  ;  her  husband 
and  William  Hutchinson  were  the  deacons  of  the 
Baptist  church.  Returning  from  the  "  Communion  " 
one  Sunday,  Mrs.  Dille  asked  her  husband  why  she 
could  not  commune  with  them.  "I  could  myself," 
said  he,  " but  our  church  could  not."  "Why  not?" 
"  Because  you  are  not  of  the  same  faith  and  order." 
"  That 's  the  creed,"  she  replied  ;  adding,  "  I  can  never 
put  my  hand  to  a  creed  !"  He  said  :  "  Then  we  can 
never  be  together."  She  asked  him,  "  If  you  should 
see  that  we  are  right,  would  you  unite  with  us  V  "  I 
would,"  was  his  prompt  xeply  ;  not  thinking,  it  is 
presumed,  that  he  would  be  put  to  that  test.  But 
she  was  satisfied  and  comforted  by  his  answer,  con- 
vinced of  his  scrupulous  honesty  and  independence  of 
character.    Her  confidence  in  these  excellent  quali- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  4O9 

ties  was  not  misplaced,  neither  were  her  expectations 
of  his  early  change  destined  to  be  disappointed. 

Soon  afterwards,  meeting  Rigdon  in  Mentor,  she 
related  the  conversation  to  him.  He  remarked :  "  I 
will  go  up  and  take  their  deacons  from  them."  In 
the  autumn  of  1829,  he  came,  preached  a  few  days, 
and  baptized  Eri  M.  Dille,  Lurilla  Dille,  Leonard 
Marsilliott  and  wife,  Mrs.  Perry,  Mary  Ann  Perry, 
Clarissa  Perry,  Mrs.  Cranny,  and  her  daughter  Fanny 
Cranny.  These,  with  Sister  Dille,  were  associated 
together  for  meetings.  Rigdon,  taking  Luther  Dille's 
hand,  said  :  "Will  you  not  go  with  these  young  con- 
verts and  take  care  of  them?"  "J  will."  This  was 
his  change  ;  a  happy  one  to  him,  and  blessed  to  hun- 
dreds. He  was  so  full  of  joy  on  discovering  that 
salvation  is  offered  to  all  men  in  the  gospel  that  he 
could  not  sleep.  "  I  always  thought,"  he  said,  "  I 
was  like  some  whom  Paul  spoke  of,  'ever  learning 
and  never  able  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth.'  The  creed  and  the  doctrines  of  Calvinism  I 
never  could  see  through,  but  I  thought  I  must  ac- 
cept them,  and  thought  I  believed  them ;  but  now 
the  gospel  plan  of  salvation  is  so  plain,  it  fills  my  soul 
with  joy  unspeakable."  "  I  am  tired  waiting  on  the 
people,"  said  Mrs.  Dille ;  "  you  must  let  me  rest." 
But  he  could  not  sleep.  He  rose,  got  his  hymn-book 
and  sung,  then  prayed,  and  so  he  spent  the  night — 
too  happy  to  sleep. 

Elder  Baily  and  deacon  Beebee  came  to  recover 
him  from  the  error  of  his  ways.  The  elder  was  full 
of  assurance  and  pomp.  "  Uncle  Luther,"  new  in 
the  faith,  was  not  well  prepared  for  defense.  Mrs. 
Dille  wished  to  help  him,  but  refrained.  She  stepped 
35 


410  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

across  the  way  and  called  in  A.  P.  Jones  from  his 
school-room,  who  entered  and  sat  quietly  down  on 
a  low  seat  At  a  juncture,  Baily  having  quoted 
Scripture  in  disproof  of  the  "new"  doctrine,  Jones 
spoke  :  "  If  you  would  read  the  whole  of  that  passage 
it  would  make  directly  against  your  views."  "  Mod- 
esty becomes  a  young  man,"  said  Baily,  in  contempt. 
"  And  wisdom  becomes  age,"  quickly  replied  the  young 
teacher,  and  then  quoted  the  language.  "It  does 
not  read  so,"  said  the  elder.  "  We  shall  see,"  said 
Jones  ;  and  taking  out  his  testament,  he  read  out  the 
exact  words  he  had  quoted.  Mr.  Baily  was  discom- 
fitted.  He  was  persuaded  with  difficulty  to  remain 
till  after  dinner.  He  returned  to  deacon  Hutchinson's, 
who  asked,  What  have  you  done  with  deacon  Dille  ? 
"  O,  he  has  fallen  asleep  in  the  lap  of  Delilah ! " 

In  April,  1830,  Elder  Thomas  Campbell  came  and 
organized  the  church  in  scriptural  order,  setting 
apart,  by  imposition  of  hands,  Luther  Dille  as  elder, 
and  Leonard  Marsilliott  and  Eri  M.  Dille  as  deacons. 

Bro.  William  Collins  came  about  the  same  time, 
laboring  with  great  acceptance,  and  adding  to  their 
numbers.  Lanson  O'Connor  heard  him,  and  said  to 
him  :  u  You  are  the  first  man  I  ever  heard  preach  the 
gospel."  He  obeyed  it,  and  plead  it  zealously  till  his 
death.  To  Bro.  J.  J.  Moss  also  the  church  was,  and 
ever  will  be,  greatly  indebted  for  his  zealous  labors  in 
teaching  the  people,  and  defending  the  principles  of  the 
gospel.  Rigdon's  fall  staggered  many,  but  Mormon- 
ism  never  made  a  convert  in  Euclid.  This  is  much 
owing  to  the  presence  of  Moss.  He  debated  with 
one  of  their  elders,  and  so  routed  him  that  he  fled 
from  the  community.    Bro.  Washington  O'Connor 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


411 


rose  up  in  the  church  and  became  very  useful  in 
keeping  the  members  together,  and  adding  to  their 
numbers.  This  young  brother  was  soon  on  the  wing, 
encouraged  by  the  church,  and  became  very  useful 
as  a  proclaimer  of  the  gospel.  He  traveled  exten- 
sively in  Lorain,  Huron,  Erie,  Wayne,  and  Holmes 
counties,  bringing  many  souls  to  Christ.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Dille,  and  after  a  few  years  he 
settled  in  Mishawaka,  Ind.,  where  his  useful  life 
terminated  May  12,  1859,  aged  fifty-one  years. 

Damon  O'Connor,  also,  was  many  years  a  promi- 
nent member ;  and  Armon  O'Connor,  one  of  the 
first  to  embrace  the  faith,  baptized  by  A.  P.  Jones, 
October,  1832,  was  chosen  associate  in  the  eldership 
with  Luther  Dille,  a  position  he  held  with  credit  for 
many  years,  and  till  he  removed  to  another  church. 

William  Hayden  was  one  of  the  first  to  sow  the 
seed  of  the  kingdom  in  this  community.  A  meeting 
held  by  him  and  Bro.  Moss  in  Shumway's  barn  made 
a  great  impression,  and  is  talked  of  yet,  after  nearly 
forty  years,  as  a  notable  occasion. 

The  first  of  the  great  yearly  meetings  in  Euclid 
was  in  September,  1837,  and  was  a  memorable  oc- 
casion. The  attendance  was  by  thousands.  Mr. 
Campbell's  former  visits  to  the  county,  and  especially 
his  signal  triumph  over  the  Anakims  of  skepticism 
the  year  before,  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  freshly  and 
favorably  remembered,  called  crowds  to  hear  him. 
His  discourse  on  Lord's  day  was  one  of  his  most 
masterly  efforts.  It  was  founded  on  Gen.  iii:  15  ; 
and  showed  the  nature  and  design  of  positive  in- 
stitutions as  tests  of  obedience.  It  was  a  power- 
ful argument  against  infidelity.    Assisting  in  the 


412  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


meeting,  were  Butler,  of  Indiana,  Hayden,  Green, 
Bentley,  CJapp,  Moody,  Williams,  Allerton,  Collins, 
Moss,  Veits,  O'Connor,  Atwater,  Brown,  and  A.  S. 
Hayden.  The  immediate  result  was  nineteen  conver- 
sions. This  meeting  formed  an  epoch  in  the  history 
of  this  church  and  of  the  cause  of  primitive  Christi- 
anity in  all  that  region.  The  plea  was  lifted  high 
into  public  notice,  and  many,  from  this  hearing,  after- 
ward became  obedient  to  the  faith. 

In  October,  the  following  year,  a  successful  meet- 
ing was  conducted  in  Euclid  by  A.  P.  Jones,  Moody, 
and  Robison.    Eight  additions. 

A  few  months  after,  February,  1839,  John  Henry 
came  for  eight  days.  The  brethren  not  having  a 
meeting-house,  they  rented  a  vacant  store-room  in 
the  village.  This,  for  nearly  three  years,  was  their 
meeting  place.  It  was  crowded  nightly  to  hear  this 
invincible  champion  of  the  truth.  There  were  ten 
added  to  the  number,  seven  of  them  conversions. 
Among  these  last  was  an  old  sea  captain,  Jephtha  G. 
Nickerson,  from  New  Bedford,  Mass.  In  command 
of  a  vessel,  he  had  made  most  of  the  commercial 
ports  of  the  world — had  visited  Malta,  the  island 
where  Paul  was  cast  ashore.  He  had  been  ship-wrecked 
on  the  Mediterranean ;  and  now,  spending  a  quiet 
winter  in  the  secluded  village  of  Collamer,  he  turned 
in  to  hear  the  stranger.  Henry's  manner,  bold,  de- 
cided, energetic,  exactly  suited  the  captain,  whose 
own  nature  was  a  compacted  tempest.  He  under- 
stood the  preacher.  For  the  first  time  he  heard 
something  plain,  tangible,  and  common  sense  on  the 
subject  of  conversion,  and  well  backed  up  with  Script- 
ure.   He  obeyed,  and  his  soul  was  as  tender  as  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


413 


mourning-dove.  Sleep  left  him,  but  "  songs  in  the 
night "  came  to  him.  He  learned  the  hymns,  and  his 
mouth  was  opened  with  a  "  new  song." 

He  said  to  Bro.  Henry :  "  I  have  a  brother  David. 
I  '11  have  him  here  next  winter.  You  must  come 
back  and  convert  him."  So  spoke  the  earnest  sailor. 
Henry  made  a  promise,  and  he  never  forgot  one,  that 
a  year  hence  he  would  return. 

Intervening,  June,  1839,  J-  J-  Moss  and  A.  S.  Hay- 
den  held  a  two  days'  meeting  in  the  same  store-room, 
resulting  in  nine  conversions.  The  next  February, 
at  Bro.  Henry's  arrival,  both  the  captains  were  at 
home.  The  younger  one  discovered  in  the  teachings 
of  the  gifted  preacher  what  had  never  been  suggested 
or  hinted  in  all  the  preaching  to  which  he  had  list- 
ened ;  that  in  the  gospel  God  has  made  known  the 
way  of  salvation  through  faith,  repentance  and  bap- 
tism, into  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit ;  that 
this,  his  established  order,  is  open  to  all  men  to  the 
end  of  time.  His  soul  was  kindled  as  he  saw  the 
way  so  plain  that  "  the  wayfaring  man  could  not  err 
therein  ; "  and  he  also  turned  to  the  Lord.  Several 
others  also  were  added. 

The  yearly  meetings  this  year,  1840,  one  of  which 
was  in  this  church,  were  marked  with  peculiar  inter- 
est.   Bro.  Campbell  says  of  them : 

"We  attended  the  yearly  meetings  in  Warren,  and  in 
Euclid,  Ohio,  held  annually  in  the  last  week  in  August  and 
the  first  week  in  September.  Both  meetings  were  well  at- 
tended with  public  laborers.  Present  at  Warren,  were 
brethren  C.  Bosworth,  J.  Hartzel,  J.  Henry,  S.  Church, 
E.  Williams,  A.  Allerton,  M.  S.  Clapp,  Dr.  Robison, 
A.  S.  Hayden,  S.  Ryder,  W.  Collins,  M.  Martin,  C.  Mc- 


414  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Neely,  Z.  Rudolph,  H.  Brockett,  W.  Beaumont,  C.  E.  Van- 
voorhis,  Abijah  Sturdevant  and  Dr.  A.  W.  Campbell. 
Besides  a  number  of  these,  there  were  at  the  Euclid  meet- 
ing, Elder  A.  Bentley,  W.  Hayden,  J.  J.  Moss,  and 
others. 

"  From  a  number  of  detailed  statements  we 

concluded  that  the  number  of  disciples  on  the  Reserve 
has  nearly,  or  altogether,  doubled  during  the  last  year. 
The  churches  also  are  in  the  very  best  order ;  the  laborers 
have  been  more  industrious,  more  engaged,  and,  conse- 
quently, more  successful  during  the  present  season.  Bro. 
William  Beaumont  has  immersed  75  in  New  Lisbon ;  Bro. 
Henry,  140  since  the  beginning  of  the  year;  Bro.  Wesley 
Lanphear  and  J.  H.  Jones  have  baptized  many ;  and, 
indeed,  all  the  laborers  have  reason  to  bless  the  Lord  and 
to  renew  their  courage  in  the  glorious  work  of  saving  men. 1 ' 

There  were  43  immersed  at  the  meeting  in  War- 
ren, and  ten  in  Euclid.  On  Monday,  Bro.  Moss  made 
a  stirring  appeal  for  greater  liberality  in  support  of 
the  gospel,  asserting  strongly  the  need  of  a  brother 
to  be  sent  out  among  the  churches  to  arouse  them  to 
this  duty.  William  Hayden  was  his  man.  He  offered 
to  be  one  of  four  who  would  give  him  the  sum  of 
three  hundred  dollars  for  a  year's  labor  to  this  end. 
"  Who  will  be  the  other  three?  "  Samuel  Miller,  late 
of  Willoughby,  was  quick  on  his  feet.  "  Who  next  ?" 
Casper  Hendershot,  of  Euclid.  "Now  the  third?" 
holding  firmly  to  his  point.  Bro.  Webster,  of  Mentor, 
completed  the  quaternion,  and  William  Hayden  ac- 
cepted the  mission. 

There  was  a  great  ingathering  here  in  October, 
1842.  A.  S.  Hayden  began  the  meeting  in  the  audi- 
ence room  of  the  meeting-house,  which  was  yet  un- 
finished.   The  work  of  conversion  began  with  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


415 


meeting.  After  several  days,  and  the  baptism  of 
twenty-eight,  the  laborer  dispatched  a  note  to  Bro. 
Robison,  of  Bedford,  who  was  in  his  carriage  in  thirty 
minutes  after  receiving  it,  and  in  ninety  minutes 
more  was  on  the  ground,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles, 
ready  for  work.  He  remained  five  days.  Forty 
souls  were  brought  into  the  kingdom. 

In  March,  of  1847,  Bro.  Isaac  Errett  labored  a 
week,  gathering  in  twenty;  and  in  185 1,  the  church 
was  increased  by  the  addition  of  twenty  more  by  Calvin 
Smith  and  B.  F.  Perky.  After  this,  W.  A.  Belding 
and  J.  H.  Jones  held  very  successful  meetings  at 
different  times.  The  new  meeting-house  was  erected 
in  1862-3. 

Elder  Luther  Dille,  having  served  as  bishop  of  the 
church  over  thirty  years,  with  great  efficiency  and 
universal  esteem,  fell  asleep,  April  18,  1863,  aged  79 
years.  The  other  churches  closed  their  meetings  at 
an  earlier  hour  than  usual,  that  the  people  might 
come  and  mourn  together  over  a  man  whose  Chris- 
tian character  won  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 
That  day  the  church  lost  its  first  elder,  who,  in  all 
his  administration,  had  been  a  model  of  firmness,  in- 
tegrity, impartiality  and  philanthropy. 

The  Church  Established  in  Cleveland. 

The  first  discourse  in  this  city,  on  the  "ancient 
gospel"  as  plead  by  the  disciples,  was  delivered  by 
the  pioneer,  William  Hayden.  It  occurred  under  the 
following  circumstances :  Coming  to  Armon  O'Con- 
nor's, a  new  convert  from  Euclid,  then  living  in 
Brooklyn,  two  miles  west  of  the  Cuyahoga  River,  Bro 
O'Connor  asked  him  to  preach  in  the  village,  down 


4l6  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

near  the  river.  This  was  before  even  "Ohio  City" 
was  known  or  named.  Hayden  replied  that  he  would 
do  so,  if  an  audience  could  be  obtained  at  10  o'clock 
on  a  certain  Monday  morning  which  he  mentioned. 
O'Connor  agreed  to  these  terms.  About  8  o'clock 
of  the  appointed  morning,  Bro.  O'Connor  started  and 
canvassed  the  entire  community,  visiting  every  house. 
One  hour  and  a  half  accomplished  the  patrol.  Every 
family  was  invited,  and  nearly  every  one  came.  The 
preacher  took  up  the  subject  of  "election,"  much  dis- 
cussed those  times,  and  in  a  full  and  vigorous  argu- 
ment he  stated  and  replied  to  the  leading  proofs  re- 
lied on  in  support  of  the  foreordination  of  a  select 
few  to  eternal  life  ;  and  in  contrast  with  this  unscrip- 
tural  hypothesis,  he  opened  a  free  salvation  through 
faith  and  obedience  to  Jesus  Christ.  The  sermon 
was  listened  to  with  marked  attention,  as  well  for  the 
boldness  and  novelty  of  the  preacher's  manner,  as  for 
the  freshness  and  power  of  the  scriptural  views  he 
presented.  This  was  in  October,  1833.  The  ground 
thus  gained  was  never  lost.  He  introduced  Bro. 
Moss  and  Bro.  Green,  who  astonished  the  people 
by  their  knowledge  of  the  Bible  and  power  in  teach- 
ing it.  Among  the  first  converts  were  Mrs.  Armon 
O'Connor,  baptized  by  Bro.  Moss ;  and  W.  B.  Storer 
and  his  wife,  who  were  baptized  by  Hayden  at  the 
yearly  meeting  in  Richfield,  September,  1834.  Bro. 
Hayden  preached  in  the  old  academy  in  Cleveland 
to  full  assemblies.  Some  of  the  converts  recently 
gathered  into  the  church  are  the  fruits  of  those  ser- 
mons delivered  thirty  years  before. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting  held  on  Mr. 
Wightman's  farm,  in  1835,  it  was  arranged  for  Mr, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


417 


Campbell  to  preach  in  the  court-house  on  Monday 
afternoon  at  4  o'clock.  It  was  the  old  court-house 
which  stood  on  the  south-west  corner  of  the  public 
square.  There  were  only  two  hours  to  circulate  the 
word.  No  time  for  hand-bills.  This  appointment 
was  at  the  solicitation  of  Thomas  Hawley,  an  intel- 
ligent disciple,  who  not  long  before  had  moved  from 
Shrewsbury,  England,  and  was  then  a  resident  in 
Cleveland.  At  his  suggestion,  his  son  Joseph  and 
Armon  O'Connor  went  through  all  the  principal 
streets,  and  in  clear  ringing  tones  announced  in  stores, 
shops,  and  private  houses,  that  Alexander  Campbell 
would  preach  in  the  court-house  at  4  o'clock.  These 
messengers  were  young  and  active.  The  whole  city 
heard,  and  the  court-room  was  overflowing  before 
the  hour  arrived,  all  anxious  to  hear  him. 

Sheriff  Wightman's  influence  was  great  with  the 
officials,  and  with  the  people,  by  whom  he  was  much 
respected.  Through  him  the  court-house  was  opened 
several  times  for  William  Hayden,  whose  discourses 
were  listened  to  by  full  audiences.  His  brother  held 
a  two  days'  meeting  in  it.  Discourses  were  delivered 
there  by  Moss,  Williams,  and  Collins.  These  sermons, 
like  the  leaven  in  the  meal,  were  doing  their  work. 
They  opened  the  way  for  the  harvest  which  ere  long 
was  reaped  in  the  city.  But  it  was  in  June,  1836, 
the  greatest  advance  was  made  in  Cleveland.  On  a 
trip  to  New  England,  Mr.  Campbell  stopped  in  the 
city  and  delivered  some  discourses  in  favor -of  the 
Bible.  These  sermons  aroused  the  skeptics  in  the 
city,  and  Irad  Kelley  volunteered  as  the  defender  of 
infidelity.  A  few  speeches  and  rejoinders  were  made, 
when  Mr.  Campbell  urged  the  infidel  junto,  for  it 


4l8  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


appears  they  had  no  defined  organization,  to  put  forth 
their  champion,  as  the  discomfiture  of  any  other 
would  not  be  acknowledged  by  them  as  the  overthrow 
of  their  cause.  Skepticism  in  the  city  of  Cleveland 
was  then  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  intrepid  Dr. 
Underhill,  to  make  for  it  the  best  defense  in  his  power. 
As  court  was  to  open  the  next  day,  the  first  Presby- 
terian church,  of  which  the  venerable  Dr.  Aiken  was 
pastor,  was  freely  granted  for  the  continuance  of  the 
discussion. 

The  conclusion  of  this  debate  of  four  days,  which 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  city,  is  thus  de- 
clared by  Mr.  Campbell : 

"  After  hearing  some  other  reiterations  from  Taylor,  and 
some  explanations  from  Mr.  Kelley,  and  some  very  flatter- 
ing compliments  from  my  friend  Underhill,  with  the  great- 
est urbanity  and  good  nature  we  came  to  a  close — I  reca- 
pitulating the  whole,  and  showing  that  now,  after  so  long 
and  so  patient  a  session,  we  had  heard  these  leaders  of  the 
skeptics  of  Cleveland  display,  if  not  all  they  had,  certainly 
the  best  and  the  strongest  allegations  they  had  to  offer.  It 
could  not  be  difficult  to  see  the  nakedness  of  the  land  of 
infidelity,  the  poverty  of  its  soul,  when  such  an  assiduous 
cultivator  as  my  opponent  had  raised  so  poor  a  crop  after 
the  toils  of  so  many  moons.  We  contrasted  the  bearings, 
the  prospects,  and  the  ultimate  termination  cf  the  two 
hopes — that  of  immortality,  and  that  of  eternal  sleep; 
the  present  pleasures  of  religion  and  the  pains  of  skepti- 
cism ;  and  after  a  word  of  friendly  exhortation  to  my  an- 
tagonists,. I  bade  them  adieu. 

"Thus,  after  enjoying,  with  many  others,  the  very  kind 
hospitalities  of  our  benevolent  brother  Hawley  and  his 
amiable  family  for  several  days,  and  various  demonstrations 
of  respect  and  good  will  from  all  parties,  we  retired  in  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


419 


evening  of  that  day  to  our  good  but  afflicted  brother 
Wightman's,  in  the  country;  and,  after  spending  a  pleas- 
ant evening  with  himself  and  family,  on  the  next  morning 
we  embarked  on  Lake  Erie  for  the  State  of  New  York. 

"We  had  the  pleasure,"  Mr.  Campbell  adds,  "in  the 
midst  of  our  discussions,  to  be  called  to  the  river  to  hear 
the  confession  of  six  converts  who  were  immersed  into 
Christ  by  our  brother  Adamson  Bentley." 

This,  it  is  presumed,  is  the  first  instance  of  bap- 
tism by  our  brethren  in  the  city  of  Cleveland.  The 
occasion  is  memorable.  The  administrator  was  as 
venerable  as  a  patriarch  ;  and  the  converts  were  tro- 
phies of  a  signal  victory  achieved  over  the  allied 
forces  of  infidelity  in  the  city. 

The  gentlemen  who  presided,  at  different  times 
over  this  discussion,  were  Elder  Bentley,  Thomas 
Hawley,  and  Tolbert  Fanning,  of  Nashville,  Tenn., 
one  of  Mr.  Campbell's  companions  in  travel. 

It  is  eminently  worthy  of  special  attention,  that  all 
the  participants  in  that  scene  are  now  dwellers  among 
the  countless  tenants  of  the  grave.  Campbell,  Bent- 
ley, Fanning,  Hawley,  Wightman  ;  M.  S.  Clapp  also, 
and  William  Hayden.  Bro.  Clapp  made  two  speeches 
in  the  discussion,  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Campbell's 
hoarseness.  All  these  have  wheeled  into  the  ranks 
of  that  long  procession  of  immortal  spirits  who  are 
awaiting  their  crowns.  Dr.  Underhill  sleeps.  And 
now,  within  a  few  days,  Irad  Kelley,  Esq.,  the  lone 
survivor  of  that  group  of  historic  names,  is  brought 
from  the  seaboard  where  he  died,  to  rest  among  his 
kindred  dead. 

From  that  day  the  cause  of  infidelity  withered.  It 
was  the  blasting  of  the  fruitless  fig-tree.    Long  after- 


420  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ward  in  a  public  assembly  of  the  citizens,  Rev.  Mr. 
Aiken  declared  that  to  Mr.  Campbell  was  to  be  credi- 
ted the  downfall  of  infidelity  in  the  city  of  Cleveland. 
In  this  opinion  he  only  expressed  the  concurring 
judgment  of  other  intelligent  citizens,  some  of  whom, 
legal  gentlemen  of  reputation,  have  so  said  to  me. 

The  cherished  purpose  of  planting  the  ancient 
gospel  in  Cleveland  seemed  to  be  delayed  by  the  death 
of  Col.  Wightman.  This  warm-hearted  Christian 
was  no  less  active  than  influential.  On  January  12, 
1837,  he  fell  asleep  in  good  hope,  after  a  long  and 
painful  illness.  The  removal  of  Bro.  Hawley  and 
family  to  Detroit,  about  this  time,  was  also  a  blow 
to  hope.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  a  door  of 
faith  was  opened,  and  in  the  following  manner : 

Capt.  J.  G.  Nickerson  and  his  brother,  having 
moved  to  Cleveland,  they  importuned  Henry  to  come 
and  preach  in  the  city.  This  panoplied  chieftain 
opened  the  siege  Friday,  the  nth  of  February,  1842. 
In  three  days  the  meeting  was  all  ablaze.  Great 
numbers  were  not  able  to  gain  admittance.  The 
overpowering  mastery  of  that  matchless  man  held 
his  audiences  for  an  hour  and  a  half  to  two  hours  as 
under  a  charm.  Gentlemen,  and  sometimes  ladies, 
stood  during  the  sermon  unconscious  of  the  time. 
During  the  ten  days  of  his  meeting  there  were  twenty- 
six  conversions.  Three  others  united,  and  on  Lord's 
day,  the  20th  of  February,  1842,  the  church  was  con- 
stituted and  left  under  the  general  oversight  of  Dr. 
J.  P.  Robison  and  A.  S.  Hayden.  D.  P.  Nickerson 
and  Geo.  B.  Tibbitts  were  the  elders.  The  next 
Lord's  day,  Robison  preached  and  baptized  six  more. 
Bro.  Jones,  whose  prowess  scents  the  battle  from  afar, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


421 


was  quickly  on  the  ground,  and  made  many  acces- 
sions to  the  infant  church.  Soon  after,  the  amiable 
and  gifted  Collins,  with  Robison,  held  a  meeting 
which  resulted  in  thirty  conversions. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1843,  tne  church  re- 
moved to  Apollo  Hall,  east  side  of  the  river.  In 
this  and  in  Empire  Hall  it  met  about  two  years — Dr. 
Robison  and  A.  S.  Hayden  alternating  in  preaching  ; 
then,  in  1846,  the  congregation  re-established  itself 
in  Ohio  City.  Soon  after  this,  Bro.  L.  Cooley,  who 
had  been  an  early  member  here,  became  their  preacher. 
He  was  succeeded,  in  1852,  by  Bro.  Green,  following 
whom,  Bro.  Cooley  was  again  employed.  In  i860, 
Bro.  C.  C.  Foot  became  the  pastor ;  then  brethren 
B.  A.  Hinsdale,  James  Canon,  and  S.  E.  Shephard 
served  the  church  successively ;  the  present  incum- 
bent is  Bro.  A.  Wilcox. 

The  Church  in  East  Cleveland  Planted. 

This  church  originated  as  a  branch  of  the  church 
in  Euclid.  A  number  of  the  members  residing  at 
this  place,  known  as  Doane's  Corners,  prepared  the 
way  for  a  meeting  the  4th  of  July,  1843.  It  was 
held  under  a  tent,  and  was  attended  by  brethren 
Hartzel,  Clapp,  Collins,  Robison,  Benjamin  and  A.  S. 
Hayden.  All  assisted,  but  the  chief  preaching  was 
by  Hartzel.  There  were  over  thirty  additions ; 
among  them  was  Dr.  N.  H.  Finney,  who  afterward 
attained  considerable  eminence  as  a  preacher,  and  who 
died  in  the  faith  a  few  years  after.  Thus  encouraged 
and  increased,  the  brethren  at  the  "  Corners "  pre- 
sented a  petition  to  the  church  of  Euclid,  dated  Au- 
gust 7,  1843,  signed  by  seventeen  names,  asking  to 


422  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

be  set  off  to  form  a  separate  church.  The  request 
being  granted,  the  members  met  September  4th,  at 
the  dwelling  of  Col.  Gardner,  nominated  their  offi- 
cers, and  soon  after  entered  on  the  exercise  of  their 
duties  as  a  church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Their  first  officers  were  W.  P.  Hudson  and  Theo- 
dore Stafford.  This  band  of  disciples  held  their  po- 
sition with  great  perseverance,  having  to  contend 
much  of  the  time  with  sharp  opposition.  Besides 
the  help  which  they  received  from  the  parent  church, 
Bro.  M.  S.  Clapp  was  procured  for  regular  visits. 
Few  churches  had  pastors,  or  elders,  those  days, 
who  gave  themselves  wholly  to  the  care  of  them. 
They  had  "  meetings  "  by  Bros.  Green,  Robison,  J.  H. 
Jones,  and  others.  William  Hayden  was  a  chief  de- 
pendence, both  for  preaching  and  counsel.  Among 
the  last  discourses  he  delivered  was  to  this  church, 
which  he  loved,  and  the  importance  of  whose  posi- 
tion he  fully  appreciated,  in  view  of  the  prospective 
increase  of  the  city  of  Cleveland.  After  meeting  for 
a  time  in  the  old  stone  school-house,  the  church 
erected  a  plain,  commodious  edifice,  which  continued 
to  serve  them  till  the  erection  of  their  present  large 
and  attractive  house  of  worship.  In  this  excellent 
building,  which  is  a  rich  credit  to  the  architect,  as 
well  as  to  the  liberality  and  enlightened  impulses  of 
the  brotherhood,  and  a  monument  to  the  generosity 
of  Dr.  W.  S.  Streator,  the  church  entered  on  a  new 
and  wider  career  of  usefulness.  Bro.  J.  H.  Jones 
was  called  to  the  charge  of  the  church.  After  him 
Bro.  C.  C.  Foot  was  their  help.  Bro.  J.  B.  Johnston, 
from  Illinois,  was  their  minister  for  a  year,  greatly 
beloved.    His  declining  health  compelled  his  resigna- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


423 


tion.  The  church  has  enjoyed  the  labors  also  of 
Isaac  Errett  and  of  Dr.  L.  L.  Pinkerton.  It  is 
now  widening  its  influence  and  enlarging  its  activi- 
ties under  the  oastoral  charge  of  Bro.  Jabez  Hall. 


424 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


The  Church  in  Royalton  planted — William  Moody  and  the  Church 
in  LaFayette — The  Cause  in  Brunswick — J.  W.  Lanphear — 
The  Gospel  brought  into  Granger  and  Ghent. — M.  L.  Wilcox. 


HEREVER   the  gospel  was  proclaimed  it 


V  »  found  men  tired  of  sects,  and  possessed  of 
qualities  of  character  which  would  stamp  them  as 
extraordinary  men  in  any  enterprise.  Noted  among 
such  men,  was  John  Baker  Stewart,  of  Royalton. 
He  was  born  in  Bristol,  Vermont,  May  10,  1791.  He 
emigrated  to  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  where  he 
united  with  the  Baptists.  He  returned  to  the  place 
of  his  nativity,  and  in  18 17,  he  started  with  an  ox- 
team  for  the  Connecticut  Western  Reserve.  Forty- 
two  days  steady  traveling  brought  him  to  Royalton. 
The  primitive  forest  reigned  undisturbed.  Not  a 
road  was  laid  out  in  the  township.  He  selected  his 
land  on  which  he  has  resided  ever  since.  Of  educa- 
tion and  solid  sense  above  mediocrity  he  has  held  a 
prominent  position  in  the  county. 

Henry  Hudson,  a  Baptist  preacher  and  a  physi- 
cian, established  a  church  in  Royalton.  In  1828, 
through  internal  broils,  it  ceased  to  meet.  Before 
they  dissolved, Stewart,  for  himself  and  wife,  obtained 
letters  of  honorable  dismission.  About  this  time 
Edward  Scofield  came  in  from  Bazetta.  He  was 
abreast  with  the  reformatory  movement  in  Trumbull 
County,  and  though  scarcely  equal  to  Stewart  in  the 
stern  qualities  of  leadership,  he  was  a  man  of  culture 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


425 


and  independence.  From  Connecticut,  where  he  was 
born  in  1779,  he  came  to  the  territory  of  Ohio  in 
1797.  He  assisted  in  surveying  the  lot  lines  in 
many  of  the  townships.  He  was  the  first  settler  in 
Bazetta,  the  nearest  neighbor  being  five  miles  dis- 
tant. He  built  the  first  mills  in  that  region.  Every 
body  was  hospitable  then — Scofield  notably  so.  In 
18 17  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  which 
position  he  filled  with  honor.  He  took  membership 
with  the  Baptists  in  Warren,  and  soon  rose  to  use- 
fulness. He  preached  the  gospel  for  many  years, 
and  was  one  of  the  "  charter  members  "  of  the  church 
of  Bazetta. 

In  1822,  Ezra  Leonard  came  into  Royalton.  He 
and  Stewart,  and  Almon  Eastman,  were  accustomed 
to  meet  and  compare  the  doctrines  of  their  creed 
with  the  teaching  of  the  Scriptures.  Light  began 
to  shine.  When  the  u  Christian  Baptist"  started, 
David  Hays,  of  Canfield,  who  was  father-in-law  to 
both  Stewart  and  Leonard,  became  a  subscriber. 
His  daughter,  Mrs.  Ruth  Leonard,  a  woman  of  very 
remarkable  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  obtained 
that  work,  and  put  it  into  the  hands  of  Stewart. 
The  first  piece  he  read  in  it  was  Mr.  Campbell's  es- 
say on  the  call  to  the  ministry.  Taught  from  child- 
hood in  the  belief  that  preachers  are  immediately 
and  divinely  called  as  Moses  was,  this  sharp  and  sift- 
ing analysis  of  the  subject,  though  entirely  success- 
ful in  correcting  his  early  teaching  in  regard  to  it, 
was  very  distasteful,  as  it  produced  the  humiliating 
conviction  that  he  had  imbibed  pernicious  error. 
After  a  few  days,  he  said  :  "  Well,  '  honesty  is  the 
best  policy.'  I  will  be  honest,  and  let  the  truth  have 
36 


426  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

its  full  effect  on  my  heart."  This  was  his  emancipa- 
tion, and  it  opened  to  him  a  hew  era  and  a  new  ca- 
reer. 

So  stood  matters  till  late  in  the  fall  of  1829,  at 
which  time  Leonard,  being  in  Canfield,  invited  Wil- 
liam Hayden  to  Royalton.    What  were  fifty  miles, 
or  the  sleety  storms  of  coming  winter,  to  him  ? 
"I'll  go,"  and  Leonard  gave  notice  in  Richfield,  at 
Bangs'  Corners,  that  a  preacher  from  Trumbull 
County  would  come  and  preach  the  everlasting  gos- 
pel.    Hayden's  limping,  white-faced  horse,  sharing 
the  high  enthusiasm  of  his  martial  rider,  brought  the 
bearer  of  glad  tidings  in  prompt  time.    Curiosity  to 
hear  the  advocate  of  a  new  religion,  as  the  everlast- 
ing gospel  without  shadings  and  trimmings  was 
supposed  to  be,  filled  the  school-house.    The  candles 
were  without  candlesticks.    Setting  them  here  and 
there  into  pools  of  melted  tallow,  the  meeting  was 
opened.     The  preaching  created  great  excitement. 
The  place  was  full  of  skeptics.    One  night,  when 
the  sermon  was  ended,  a  man  cried  out :  "  Mr.  Hay- 
den, how  long  do  you  think  a  man  will  have  to  stay 
in  hell?"     Answered  as  quick  as  asked — "I  don't 
know  ;  I  do  n't  expect  to  go  there  to  see ! "  For 
awhile  the  cause  trembled  in  the  balances.  Secta- 
rian prejudice  joining  with  infidel  opposition,  the 
school-house  was  locked.    Not  knowing  it,  he  and 
the  audience  convened,  and  finding  the  house  closed, 
a  gentleman  offered  the  use  of  his  new  blacksmith 
shop.    Preacher  and  people  went  to  work,  it  was 
seated,  and  the  crowd  filling  it,  he  struck  his  best 
key,  and  for  two  hours  the  dark  and  withering  sys- 
tems of  infidelity  passed  under  rigid  review  in  con- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


427 


trast  with  the  true  rights  of  man,  the  high  civiliza- 
tion and  exalted  happiness  which  would  follow  the 
adoption  of  the  Christian  religion.  From  this,  he 
turned  toward  the  more  willing  inhabitants  of  Roy- 
alton.  Supported  by  such  men  as  Stewart,  Scovill, 
and  Leonard,  the  gospel  was  firmly  planted,  though 
fierce  opposition  attended  every  step  of  its  progress. 
Dr.  Hudson  left  no  artifice  unemployed.  But  the 
truth  is  mighty,  and  it  won  at  every  encounter. 
Converts  came,  and  professors  of  various  name  saw 
the  gospel  ground  of  union  and  co-operation,  that, 
in  coming  to  Christ,  they  came  to  one  another. 
Among  others  the  manly  Dougald  McDougall  and 
family,  who  had  been  with  the  "  Bible  Christians," 
the  excellent  and  energetic  Jewett  N.  Frost  also, 
who,  though  they  have  gone  to  their  "long  sought 
rest,"  left  witness  behind  them  in  their  zealous  labors 
for  the  gospel. 

Others  came  in  to  help  on  the  good  begun  work. 
Bro.  Green  and  Bro.  Moody  rendered  efficient  and 
timely  aid.  The  church  was  constituted  in  the  fall 
of  1829.  The  record  contains  the  following  names 
as  the  beginning  of  the  church : 

Edward  Scofield,  Mary  Scofield,  Rufus  Scofield, 
Roxana  Scofield,  John  B.  Stewart,  Huldah  Stewart, 
Jewett  N.  Frost,  Dougald  McDougall,  Lucia  Mc- 
Dougall, Adin  Pike  and  wife,  Wm.  Hatch,  Lydia 
Hatch,  David  Wallace,  Adaline  Wallace,  Almon 
Eastman,  Spencer  W.  Paine,  Miranda  Paine,  White 
Paine  and  wife,  Ebenezer  Robinson,  Oliver  N.  Paine, 
Renetta  Paine,  Henry  L.  Bangs,  Almira  Bangs, 
Elisha  N.  Bangs,  Abigail  Bangs,  Chauncey  A.  Stew- 
art, Jerry  Meach,  Lucinda  Meach,  Sylvia  M.  O'Brian, 


428  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Marcia  Whitney,  Samuel  Verney,  Damaris  Verney, 
Hannah  Verney,  Catharine  Fuller,  Decius  Barnes. 

Edward  Scofield,  J.  B.  Stewart,  and  J.  N.  Frost, 
were  the  bishops  ;  Adin  Pike  and  Dougald  McDou- 
gall,  deacons.  Bro.  Stewart,  whose  memory  retains 
its  wonderfully  retentive  power  at  eighty-three,  writes : 

"  From  this  time  forward  Bro.  William  Hayden  looked 
after,  and  took  very  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
church.  And  when  we  take  into  account  the  small  amount 
of  compensation  he  received  for  his  many  trips,  over  bad 
roads  and  through  storms,  the  church  hold  him  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  to  this  day.  Most  of  the  preaching  was 
done  by  him,  by  Bro.  Scofield,  Bro.  Green,  and  Bro. 
Moody.  All  these  brethren  are  held  in  high  esteem  by 
the  older  brethren. 

"In  the  year  1835,  Bro.  Scofield  removed  to  Indiana. 
Falling  sick,  he  was  brought  back  all  the  way  on  a  bed. 
He  lived  about  two  weeks  after  his  return,  when  he  went 
joyfully  to  meet  his  Lord." 

The  subject  of  unconditional  personal  election, 
the  staple  of  many  sermons  in  those  days,  was  al- 
ways a  hard  doctrine,  and  difficult  to  the  studious 
mind  of  Stewart.  He  was  relieved  in  the  following 
manner :  Hayden,  in  one  of  his  sermons,  declared : 
"  Put  election  on  character,  not  on  person,  and  the 
subject  is  clear.  God  has  always  respected  charac- 
ter. He  has  always  blessed  those  who  obey  him, 
and  punished  the  disobedient ;  this  is  the  true  elec- 
tion. It  rests  on  character,  not  on  person."  This 
threw  a  flood  of  light  into  his  mind,  and  he  walked 
out  of  the  entanglements  of  a  subject  which  has  be- 
wildered thousands. 

Conversing  with  a  lady  on  the  claims  of  the  gos- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  429 

pel,  she  said  with  deep  emotion,  "  Oh,  I  would  give 
all  the  world  if  my  heart  were  changed  so  I  could 
believe  on  Jesus."  "  What  would  you  give,"  said 
Hayden,  "  to  believe  on  Mohammed  ? "  "  Oh,  noth- 
ing at  all,"  she  said.  "  Why  ? "  "  Because  I  believe 
him  to  be  an  impostor."  "  But  why  do  you  wish  to 
believe  on  Jesus  ? "  "  Because  I  believe  him  to  be 
the  Son  of  God."  u  Then  you  do  believe  on  him,  do 
you  not  ? "  "  Oh,  yes,  with  all  my  heart !  "  "  Then," 
continued  the  preacher,  "  if  your  heart  were  changed, 
you  would  disbelieve  him,  and  be  an  infidel."  She 
saw  her  mistake :  with  a  heart  already  penitent  and 
in  love  with  Christ,  she  was  vainly  waiting  for  some 
miraculous  change.  She  arose,  and  was  baptized, 
and  went  on  her  way  rejoicing. 

That  remarkable  man  waged  a  heroic  battle  for 
Jesus  Christ.  Stewart  testifies,  "A  great  war  spirit 
was  aroused  by  his  preaching."  He  laid  claim  to 
the  people  as  belonging  to  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Satan 
has  ruined  in  sin,  stupefied  in  ignorance,  and  for 
whom  the  salves  of  sectarianism  bring  no  healing. 
He  "gave  no  quarter  to  sin,  ignorance,  nor  the 
devil."  In  Richfield  he  preached  in  a  ball-room.  At 
one  time  he  delivered  a  discourse  sitting  on  horse- 
back. A  correspondent  writes  the  first  time  she 
heard  him  was  in  a  saw-mill.  Like  Paul,  whom 
above  all  men  he  admired,  and  whom  he  somewhat 
resembled,  he  would  go  to  the  market,  the  theater, 
or  the  forum,  if  an  audience  could  there  be  found  to 
whom  he  might  declare  the  great  salvation. 

While  the  public  mind,  like  the  sea,  was  greatly 
agitated,  a  great  impetus  was  imparted  to  the  cause 
by  the  yearly  meeting  held  near  Bangs'  Corners, 


430  EARLY   HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

September,  1834.  It  was  a  large,  orderly  meeting, 
and  made  a  favorable  and  enduring  impression.  It 
carried  the  force  of  a  great  public  demonstration. 
In  attendance  were  J.  Hartzel,  W.  Hayden,  E.  B. 
Hubbard,  A.  Allerton,  W.  F.  Pool,  A.  B.  Green, 
Wm.  Moody,  and  A.  S.  Hayden.  Many  converts 
crowned  the  meeting  with  success.  Great  harmony 
prevailed,  and  through  acquaintance  the  hearts  of 
the  brotherhood  were  knit  together.  This  is  verita- 
ble Christian  unity,  which  was  uniting  in  the  same 
kindred  tie  the  brotherhood  now  widening  and  ex- 
tending in  all  directions. 

The  church  of  Christ  in  Royalton  still  flourishes, 
and  is  fulfilling  its  mission.  McDougall  became  an 
elder,  and  died  in  the  faith,  honored  of  all.  After  a 
little,  Bro.  Wm.  Tousley  came  in,  was  chosen  an 
overseer,  and  for  many  years  was  a  pillar.  The 
ministry,  who,  from  time  to  time  have  labored  among 
them,  have  been  zealous  and  faithful.  Besides  those 
already  named,  they  have  had  Scott,  Campbell,  Bur- 
nett, Shephard,  Buckbee,  Robison,  Jones,  Cooley, 
MofTett,  Hinsdale,  and  others  on  incidental  occa- 
sions. They  now  have  Bro.  H.  N.  Allen  for  their 
minister. 

William  Moody,  born  in  New  Hampshire,  August  29, 
1 8 10,  was  descended  from  English  and  Scotch  ancestors. 
His  twenty-third  year  found  him  in  Ohio.  After  spend- 
ing some  time  in  Wadsworth,  he  settled  in  Chatham,  Me- 
dina County. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  became  a  Baptist,  in  Frank- 
lin County,  New  York.  Persuaded  that  he  had  a  "  call  " 
to  the  ministry,  he  began  preaching.  But  his  call,  as  he 
felt  and  related  it,  was,  that  he  loved  God  and  loved  men, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


431 


and  rejoicing  in  "  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  had  made 
him  free,"  he  felt  a  strong  impulse  to  speak  of  his  saving 
goodness  to  others.  After  coming  to  Wadsworth,  he 
heard  Bro.  Green  on  the  subject  of  faith,  in  which  the 
preacher  asserted  that  "  faith  comes  by  hearing;"  (Rom. 
x :  17,)  that  it  is  the  result  of  evidence  intelligently  appre- 
hended by  the  mind.  Moody  determined  to  attack  him 
and  expose  this  false  and  pernicious  position.  It  denied 
his  notion  of  the  infusion  of  faith,  as  a  spiritual  grace,  by 
a  direct  act  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  thought  to  panoply 
himself  for  the  onset  by  a  fresh  study  and  array  of  his 
proofs ;  but  he  found  his  strength  was  weakness.  After 
that  sermon  his  proof-texts  did  not  read  to  him  as  before. 
He  was  disarmed.    The  encounter  never  took  place. 

Having  engaged  in  service  with  Bro.  Newcomb,  the 
youngest  daughter  of  the  venerable  elder  took  up  the  argu- 
ment two  hours  an  evening  for  five  nights,  chiefly  on  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the  design  of  baptism.  He 
contended  earnestly  for  the  tradition  of  the  fathers ;  but  the 
young  and  heroic  daughter  of  the  covenant  was  too  shrewd 
for  him,  well  taught  as  he  confessedly  was  in  the  general  lan- 
guage of  Scripture.  He  fell  in  the  debate,  and  yielding  up 
the  ghost  of  tradition,  he  found  new  life  and  new  joy  in 
the  clearer  and  more  scriptural  knowledge  of  the  gospel. 

From  that  hour  his  voice  was  raised  more  earnestly  in 
the  advocacy  of  the  truth.  Though  working  still  as  need 
required,  he  gave  much  time  to  the  proclamation  of  the 
Word.  In  the  fall  of  1837,  he  stuck  the  pioneer  stake  in 
the  town  of  LaFayette,  Medina  County.  For  two  nights 
the  people  listened  attentively,  but  would  not  sing.  The 
third  night,  on  approaching  the  meeting,  his  heart  was 
gladdened  by  the  sound  of  songs  of  praise.  *'  Thank 
God,"  he  exclaimed,  "the  waters  are  moving!"  He 
continued  three  months,  visiting,  reading  the  Scriptures — 
privately  and  publicly — preaching  the  gospel,  and  exhort- 
ing the  people.    He  brought  into  the  covenant  forty-nine 


432  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

by  baptism,  recovered  others,  and  founded  a  church  of 
sixty  persons.  He  instituted  meetings  for  the  new  con- 
verts, in  one  of  which,  forty  at  a  single  meeting  took  a 
part  in  prayer  and  exhortation.  Discovering  that  much 
feeling  pervaded  the  assembly,  he  offered  an  opportunity 
for  confessing  the  Lord.  Seven  arose,  one  after  another, 
confessed  their  sins,  and  declared  their  desire  for  obedi- 
ence to  the  merciful  Saviour.  They  were  baptized  the  next 
morning.  This  church  has  stood  firm  ever  since.  Bro. 
Earl  Moulton  has  long  stood  as  a  leader  and  support  to 
them.  Bro.  Moody  has  preached  a  fourth  of  his  time 
there  for  thirty-five  years,  while  his  labors  in  surrounding 
regions  has  contributed  much  to  sustain  the  churches  in 
Sullivan,  Wadsworth,  Brunswick,  Weymouth,  Granger, 
Royalton,  Birmingham,  and  many  other  places. 

The  Church  in  Pompey  Street,  Brunswick. 

Early  in  the  year  1835,  five  families  came  to 
Brunswick  from  Pompey,  Onondaga  County,  New 
York.  Settling  together,  their  street  was  called 
"Pompey  Street."    They  were,  John  Harris,  Darius 

Wilson,  Warren  Wilson,   Chase,    Garrett, 

all,  with  their  wives,  members  of  the  church  in  Pom- 
pey. Moss  and  Hayden  soon  found  them.  Great 
was  the  joy  of  these  disciples  to  see  again  those  zeal- 
ous men  who  had  imparted  to  them  so  much  light  in 
the  east.  These  two  brethren — Bro.  Green  also,  and, 
after  a  little,  Bro.  Wilcox — built  them  up  and  increased 
their  numbers.  Dr.  John  Clarke,  a  gentleman  of 
weight  and  respectability,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  a  practicing  physician,  gave  a 
candid  hearing,  and  obeyed  the  gospel. 

A  reorganization  of  the  congregation  was  made  in 
December,  1839.    Dr.  John  Clarke,  Samuel  Clarke, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


433 


and  Darius  Wilson  were  elected  overseers,  and  Dan 
A.  Moulton  and  Geo.  W.  Comstock,  deacons. 

In  this  church  a  Barnabas  arose,  who  in  many  an 
Antioch  has  taught  many.    This  was 

J.  W.  Lanphear. 

He  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  1814.  Com- 
ing to  Medina  County  in  1834,  he  soon  came  in  contact 
with  the  disciples.  William  Hayden's  original  manner 
and  point  in  argument  won  the  attention  and  enlightened 
the  judgment  of  young  Lanphear.  He  was,  while  in  New 
York,  converted  among  the  Methodists,  his  father  being 
of  that  order,  and  a  preacher  of  considerable  abilities. 
The  Campbell  and  Owen  Debate  fell  into  his  hands.  He 
read  it,  absorbed  it,  " devoured  it."  By  it  he  was  thor- 
oughly aroused.  He  next  obtained  and  studied  the  new 
translation  of  the  New  Testament,  then  lately  published 
by  Mr.  Campbell.  The  Christian  religion  became  intelli- 
gible to  him,  and  was  invested  in  his  mind  with  an  inde- 
scribable interest.  He  grasped  it,  and  it  won  every  fac- 
ulty of  his  soul.  He  embraced  it,  being  baptized  by 
William  Hayden  in  the  yearly  meeting  at  "  Bangs'  Cor- 
ners," in  September,  1834. 

When  the  Pompey  brethren  came  and  established  their 
meetings  in  Brunswick,  Bro.  Lanphear  associated  with 
them.  He  began  to  exhort ;  and  being  possessed  of  good 
natural  endowments,  ardent  in  his  nature,  and  very  stu- 
dious, he  was  soon  encouraged  to  assume  the  more  respon- 
sible position  of  a  teacher.  About  fifteen  months  after 
his  conversion  he  started  forth,  with  the  sanction  of  the 
church,  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  He  attended  the 
first  "school  of  the  preachers,"  in  New  Lisbon,  in  De- 
cember, 1835,  and  proceeded  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
spent  the  winter.  He  went  into  Maryland  in  the  spring, 
where  falling  in  with  Bro.  James  Darsie,  the  young  preach- 
37 


434  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ers  were  a  great  help  to  each  other.  The  church  of  Som- 
erset, Pa.,  which  contained  many  able  antf  influential 
members,  took  him  under  her  care  and  pupilage  for  a 
time,  receiving  blessings  from  his  labors,  and  imparting 
of  her  benefits  in  return.  He  assiduously  improved  every 
opportunity  to  fit  himself  for  his  chosen  calling.  His 
acute  penetration  of  mind,  delicate  fancy,  well  stored  un- 
derstanding and  agreeableness  of  manners,  won  him  a 
welcome  every-where.  His  path  to  public  favor  and  use- 
fulness was  now  open,  and  the  history  of  the  cause  of  ref- 
ormation in  western  Pennsylvania,  and  north-eastern 
Ohio,  and  in  other  States,  has,  for  thirty-five  years,  been 
closely  intertwined  with  that  of  this  useful  preacher  of 
righteousness. 

The  church  in  Brunswick  passed  through  the  va- 
riable vicissitudes  which  mark  the  history  of  most 
communities,  till,  by  the  removals  and  death  of  its 
members,  it  became  nearly  extinct.  The  cause  has 
been  revived,  and  a  new  church  formed  at  Hamil- 
ton's Corners,  in  the  south  part  of  the  township. 

The  Gospel  brought  into  Weymouth,  Granger, 
and  Ghent. 

In  one  of  his  excursions  into  Medina  County,  in 
the  year  1830,  Hayden  delivered  several  discourses 
in  Weymouth,  where  a  hospitable  family  by  the  name 
of  Stiles  received  him,  and  heard  him  gladly.  Geo. 
W.  Comstock,  also  a  citizen  of  influence,  became  a 
convert.  Harris  Reed,  from  Granger,  a  candid  and 
intelligent  gentleman,  was  so  delighted  with  these 
intelligible  and  consistent  views  of  the  gospel,  he  re- 
solved his  fellow-townsmen  should  have  the  opportu- 
nity of  hearing.  He  was  a  Methodist,  and  had  not 
a  doubt  the  Methodist  church  would  be  freely 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


435 


opened.  The  adventurous  pioneer,  never  waiting 
for  more  than  half  an  invitation,  promptly  consented 
to  go. 

The  Methodist  church  was  refused,  and  Reed 
was  sharply  censured  for  bringing  in  a  man  to  preach 
the  doctrine  of  devils.  Mr.  Reed  cowered  not,  nor 
sheltered  himself  from  the  gathering  storm.  He  de- 
clared openly  he  had  invited  him,  and  that  he  would 
see  him  courteously  treated.  Prejudice  sought  to 
bar  the  school-house  also,  but  the  liberal  minded 
ones  prevailing,  Hayden  gave  his  first  discourse  in 
it  amidst  much  excitement.  He  loved  to  walk  on 
the  edge  of  high  waves.  He  saw  in  the  keen  atten- 
tion of  the  people  the  augury  of  good,  and  an- 
nounced another  appointment.  This  was  a  signal 
for  marshaling  the  troops  for  battle.  He  kept  up 
his  appointments,  and  the  gospel  won  friends.  The 
first  of  the  conversions  was  Mrs.  Ellery  Lowe,  who 
came  forward,  singing: 

"This  is  the  way  I  long  have  sought, 
And  mourned  because  I  found  it  not." 

Soon  after,  Mr.  Reed  declared  for  the  ancient  gos- 
pel, the  original  ground  of  union  and  salvation.  He 
was  followed  by  others,  and  in  the  spring  of  1832, 
the  church  was  constituted. 

It  was  composed  of  the  following  persons :  Harris 
Reed  and  Sally  Reed,  Rebecca  Lowe,  George 
McCloud  and  wife,  Samuel  Crosby,  Morris  Miller 

and          Miller,  Martin  Miller  and  wife,  and  Conrad 

Turner  and  wife.  Morris  Miller  was  chosen  elder, 
and  Harris  Reed  and  Samuel  Crosby,  deacons. 

This  church  was  never  very  strong,  and  after  a 
few  years  it  became  so  weak  that  the  members 


436  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

ceased  to  hold  meetings.  About  this  time,  Bro.  Wil- 
cox preached  with  great  success  in  Ghent,  a  village 
only  a  few  miles  distant,  and  founded  a  church  there, 
in  which  the  remaining  members  in  Granger  united. 

The  Church  in  Ghent 

Was  organized  on  the  ioth  of  April,  1843,  with 
sixty-two  members.  Morris  Miller,  Thomas  Pierson, 
and  Alexander  Martin  were  chosen  elders ;  and 
Thomas  Carnaby,  Seymour  Ganyard,  and  E.  W. 
Heaton,  deacons.  Bro.  Philander  Green  writes, 
(April  3,  1875,)  "Only  five  of  the  original  members 
remain  in  the  church  now.'' 

This  church  has  had  the  labors  of  Wilcox,  who  es- 
tablished it,  Moss,  Newcomb,  Green,  Cooley,  John 
Encell,  Southmayd,  and  Holland  Brown  ;  but  long- 
est and  chiefly,  of  Bro.  Philander  Green.  This 
brother  began  to  preach  there  regularly  in  1850,  and 
for  eighteen  years  he  preached  statedly  at  intervals 
of  two  or  four  weeks.  In  1853  he  moved  his  family 
there.  Bro.  F.  M.  Green,  who  has  since  become 
prominent  in  the  work,  especially  in  the  cause  of 
Sunday-schools,  was  then  in  his  father's  family. 

From  the  year  1853  to  1868,  the  period  of  Bro. 
Green's  closest  labors  there,  there  were  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  additions  ;  at  which  time  the  church, 
after  all  the  drains  upon  it,  numbered  one  hundred 
and  fifty-two  souls.  The  last  seven  years  Bro.  Green 
has  labored  in  the  church  in  Lordstown,  Trumbull 
County. 

Marshall  Loundsbury  Wilcox  was  a  man  of  high  or- 
der and  talent.  Gifted  with  a  happy  combination  of  argu- 
ment and  eloquence,  a  style  well  suited  to  the  forum, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


437 


united  with  a  pleasing  manner,  he  was  one  of  the  most 
attractive  and  efficient  of  the  public  advocates  of  Chris- 
tianity. He  was  bold  and  positive,  and  loved  to  grapple 
with  strong  opposition,  especially  with  the  lurking  and 
sinuous  infidelity  which,  at  the  period  of  his  ministry, 
had  spread  much  over  the  Western  Reserve.  In  contend- 
ing for  the  faith  he  rendered  excellent  service.  He  was 
equally  vigilant  in  maintaining  the  purity  of  the  .gospel, 
as  was  shown  in  several  discussions,  in  which  he  successfully 
defended  the  apostles'  doctrine  against  learned  and  shrewd 
opposition. 

He  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  an 
exhorter  among  the  Methodists  when  he  first  heard  the 
Disciples,  and  with  characteristic  frankness  he  embraced 
it,  and  in  the  defense  of  it  spent  the  best  portion  of  his 
life.  He  preached  extensively  on  the  Western  Reserve, 
and  died  in  Centralia,  Illinois. 

Early  in  his  ministry  he  received  a  contusion  in  his 
head  from  the  kick  of  a  horse,  from  which  he  often  suf- 
fered severely.  It  rendered  him  sometimes  fitful  and  mel- 
ancholy. He  was  therefore  not  always  reliable  in  dis- 
course. The  tinge  of  sadness  in  his  temperament  won 
sympathy.  Admired  for  his  eloquence,  and  loved  for  his 
fidelity  and  friendship,  he  gained  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  the  people  wherever  he  went. 


43  ^  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Churches  founded  in  Chagrin  Falls — In  North  Eaton — And  in 
Youngstown. 

Chagrin  Falls. 

IN  the  winter  of  183 1-2,  A.  Bentley  moved  from 
Warren  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Falls.  The  pri- 
meval forest  reigned  on  every  side.  He  began  to 
collect  the  people  in  the  log  school-house  near  by, 
and  to  teach  them  the  gospel.  It  was  not  long  be- 
fore thirty  persons  agreed  to  unite  as  a  church  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Bentley  was  the  natural  leader  and 
overseer,  and  for  one  year  no  other  was  selected. 
Then  Gamaliel  Kent  was  appointed  to  assist.  The 
first  deacons  were  Zadoc  Bowell  and  Ralph  Russell, 
both  of  them  disciples  before  coming  to  that  com- 
munity. 

The  church  met  in  different  places  a  few  years, 
mostly  in  the  Griffith  school-house.  One  day  a  citizen 
of  the  Falls  said  to  Elijah  Hill,  "  Why  do  not  some  of 
your  men  come  and  preach  here  at  the  Falls?"  Hill 
replied,  "  We  have  a  man  who  will  preach  from  your 
hay-scales,  and  pay  you  as  much  for  the  use  of  them 
as  the  weighing  would  come  to  while  he  occupies 
them."  This  brought  Wm.  Hayden  with  the  gospel 
into  Chagrin  Falls.  The  news  of  the  singular  ap- 
pointment spread  rapidly.  There  were  no  reserved 
seats  in  that  place  of  assembling.    The  day  came, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


439 


and  with  it  the  audience  and  the  preacher.  He  went 
in  as  a  standard-bearer ;  and  it  was  not  long  before 
the  meetings  were  located  permanently  at  the  Falls. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  this  occupancy  was  a 
peaceable  possession.  Asbury  Seminary,  in  charge 
of  the  Methodist  Conference,  located  there,  was  flour- 
ishing, with  Prof.  Williams  at  its  head,  and  its 
spirit  was  bold  and  aggressive.  No  marvel  that  the 
leaders  of  that  church  looked  with  jealousy  on  this 
effort  of  the  disciples  to  plant  there  the  church  of 
Christ,  as  an  intrusion  on  their  grounds.  A  corres- 
pondence grew  up  between  Dr.  Halleck  of  the  M. 
E.  Church,  and  Elder  Bentley,  which  passed  over  into 
the  hands  of  J.  Hartzel,  of  Warren,  and  resulted  in 
a  discussion  between  Elder  J.  J.  Stedman  and  Rev. 
John  Locock,  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  Jonas 
Hartzel  and  A.  S.  Hayden,  on  the  part  of  the 
disciples.  It  began  November  14,  1843,  on  tne 
following  questions  : 

H  1.  Do  the  Scriptures  teach  that  to  a  believing 
penitent,  baptism  is  a  condition  of  the  remission  of 
sins  ? 

"  2.  Do  the  Scriptures  teach  that  immersion  is 
the  mode  of  baptism  ? 

"  3.  Do  the  Scriptures  teach  that  infants  are  sub- 
jects of  baptism  ?" 

Revs.  Stedman  and  Locock  denied  the  first  two, 
and  affirmed  the  last.  Hartzel  and  Hayden  brought 
evidence  in  affirmation  of  the  first  two,  and  against 
the  last.  Three  days  and  nights  were  spent  on  the 
first  proposition  ;  two  days  and  nights  on  the  second. 
At  this  stage  of  the  interview,  Messrs.  Stedman  and 
Locock  plead  to  be  released  from  the  discussion  of 


44°  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

the  remaining  proposition  ;  but  this  not  being  ac- 
ceded to  by  the  disciples,  they  consented  to  spend 
one  day  and  night  on  it,  which  was  done,  and  the 
debate  closed. 

By  this  discussion  all  the  religious  elements  of 
the  town  were  stirred  to  their  profoundest  depths. 
The  relative  preponderance  of  the  two  people  most 
directly  concerned  in  it  was  soon  greatly  changed. 
Asbury  Seminary  was  seized  with  the  symptoms  of 
decay  ;  ere  long  it  was  abandoned,  and  the  ample 
edifice  became  the  High  School  building  of  the  town. 
Still  it  must  be  owned  that  many  causes  often  con- 
cur to  affect  mutations,  and  to  bring  on  the  ruin  of 
human  enterprises. 

There  was  no  lack  of  home  effort  by  the  whole 
church  to  hold  every  foot  of  ground  which  the  cause 
of  the  union  of  Christians  on  Bible  grounds  was  gain- 
ing. The  system  of  evangelizing,  which  then  pre- 
vailed— or  rather  the  custom,  for  system  there  was 
none — brought  occasional  help  from  abroad.  Bent- 
ley  was  still  among  and  over  them.  Wm.  Hayden 
frequently  threw  in  appointments  though  he  was 
chiefly  on  the  wing  abroad.  Considerable  ability  to 
teach  and  exhort  by  the  Kents,  Pulsifers,  Hubbells, 
and  Collins,  sustained  the  interest  of  the  meetings. 
The  cause  gained  much  credit  and  respect  by  a  pre- 
pared course  of  lectures  on  the  evidences  of  Chris- 
.  tianity,  delivered  in  a  large  hall  in  1849,  Dv  Isaac 
Errett  with  his  known  ability.  This  course  had  be- 
come necessary  to  meet  the  sophistries  of  a  subtle 
infidelity,  which  had  grown  defiant  in  the  village. 
These  lectures  planted  the  defense  of  the  Bible  on 
principles  which  distinguish  the  Christianity  of  revel- 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


441 


ation  from  all  traditions  and  appendages  to  it,  and 
they  were  a  direct  auxiliary  to  the  aim  of  the 
church — to  restore  Bible  Christianity  to  the  world. 

For  several  years  skepticism  brooded  over  this 
town,  and  blighted  every  thing.  It  became  belicose, 
and  the  traveling  emissaries  of  no  faith,  no  soul,  and 
no  God,  were  encouraged  there  by  the  men  who 
scoffed  at  the  faith  of  Christ  and  the  hopes  of  im- 
mortality. About  this  time  Prof.  J.  A.  Garfield,  of 
the  Eclectic  Institute,  was  preaching  in  this  church. 
Mr.  Denton,  from  Boston,  a  man  of  marked  ability 
and  a  practiced  debater,  was  lecturing  at  Newton 
Falls,  and  was  soon  to  march  with  threatening  por- 
tent on  Chagrin  Falls.  A  discussion  was  agreed 
upon  between  him  and  Garfield.  The  power  in  de- 
bate, and  the  familiar  knowledge  of  the  whole  field 
of  religious  learning  involved  in  this  discussion,  dis- 
played by  Garfield,  was  a  surprise  to  every  one  ex- 
cept his  most  intimate  friends.  His  complete  mas- 
tery of  his  opponent  was  acknowledged ;  and  all  the 
religious  bodies  of  the  town  rejoiced  in  the  victory. 
This  was  in  December,  1858. 

Many  times  the  great  tent  meetings  of  the  county 
of  Cuyahoga  have  been  held  with  this  church,  both 
exhibiting  and  cultivating  a  hospitality  worthy  of 
great  praise.  By  them  the  reformatory  principles 
urged  by  the  disciples  won  a  favorable  hearing  by 
great  multitudes.  The  first  one  was  held  there  in 
September,  1847  5  again  in  1856,  attended  by  Mr. 
Campbell,  J.  O.  Beardslee,  and  the  preachers  gener- 
ally. Again  in  1864,  attended  by  Prof.  Loos  ;  also  in 
1870. 

The  strength  of  this  church,  as  every  other,  has 


442  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


ever  been  the  home  staff.  Her  overseers  were  ap- 
pointed in  the  following  order  :  Adamson  Bentley, 
in  1 83 1  ;  Gamaliel  Kent,  1832  ;  Fuller  Pulsifer,  1842  ; 
Jedidiah  Hubbell,  1845  ;  William  Hayden,  1848  ; 
King  Collins,  i860;  J.  G.  Coleman,  1863  ;  A.  Burns, 
1869.  The  following  brethren  have  served  as  dea- 
cons :  Zadoc  Bowell,  Ralph  Russell,  Amos  Boynton, 
Jedidiah  Hubbell,  Dr.  W.  S.  Hamlin,  Lewis  Perkins, 
King  Collins,  L.  B.  McFarland,  William  Collins, 
Wallace  Collins,  Hiram  Polly,  George  King,  and 
Ransom  Bliss.  Sisters  Jennie  Burns,  Louisa  Tucker, 
and  Calista  McClintock,  are  deaconesses  of  the 
church. 

The  following  brethren  have  labored  in  the  con- 
gregation either  as  pastors,  or  as  stated  supplies  : 
Adamson  Bentley,  William  Hayden,  Dr.  W.  S.  Ham- 
lin, W.  T.  Horner,  J.  A.  Garfield,  J.  H.  Rhodes,  B. 

A.  Hinsdale,  Sterling  McBride,  R.  G.  White,  W.  S. 
Hayden,  J.  G.  Coleman,  and  A.  Burns. 

As  transient  preachers  :  A.  B.  Green,  J.  H.  Jones, 

B.  F.  Perky,  J.  Hartzel,  Benj.  Franklin,  F.  M. 
Green,  R.  Moffett,  and  C.  J.  Bartholomew. 

Present  number  of  members,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  ;  the  highest  number  at  any  one  time. 
The  whole  number  from  183 1  to  1875,  about  four 
hundred  and  fifty. 

This  church  has  a  saintly  record.  Under  the 
"  green,  turfy  grave-yard,"  repose  the  remains  of 
Bro.  and  Sister  Bentley,  of  many  gracious  and  godly 
memories  ;  of  the  untiring  Wm.  Hayden,  and  five 
of  his  children ;  of  both  King  and  Wallace  Collins, 
and,  lately,  of  the  manly  Kent,  and  a  large  number 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


443 


resides,  who  have  joined  the  worshiping  host  on 
high. 

Eaton. 

In  North  Eaton,  as  in  Philippi,  the  cause  sprang 
into  existence  through  the  piety  of  a  devoted 
woman.  This  was  Mrs.  Chloe  Tucker,  who  moved 
from  Windham  to  Eaton  in  1837.  Visiting  in  Wind- 
ham in  1840,  she  strongly  entreated  Bro.  M.  J. 
Streator,  a  young  preacher  of  that  church,  to  come 
to  Eaton  and  unfurl  there  the  standard  of  the  cross. 
He  was  soon  in  those  new  settlements.    He  writes  : 

"I  went  to  North  Eaton  in  October,  1840,  and  found 
the  welcome  I  expected  from  Mr.  Tucker  and  his  family. 
Hot  tears  crowd  to  my  eyes  while  I  remember  their 
earnest  hospitality.  And  when  I  last  was  at  their  old 
home  they  had  gone  from  1  this  low  ground  where  sor- 
rows grow.'  Meetings  had  been  announced  at  the  brick 
school-house.  Many  came  from  various  motives;  but 
few,  I  think,  expected  to  hear  or  learn  their  duty.  The 
meeting  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  two  sons  of  Mrs. 
Tucker.  Reuben  F.  Tucker  was  the  first  in  Eaton  to 
obey  the  gospel  upon  apostolic  conditions.  The  pious 
mother's  prayers  were  now  partially  answered;  but  the 
work  did  not  end  with  these." 

In  March  of  1841,  he  was  again  on  the  ground.  This 
effort  was  attended  with  farther  success.  The  following 
incident  which  I  give  in  the  words  of  the  persevering 
oreacher,  will  show  the  dainty  fingered  heroes  of  modern 
warfare  the  tack  and  toil  of  those  hardy  times:  "A 
slough  of  eighty  rods  in  width  lay  between  the  settlement 
in  which  the  Tuckers  resided  and  the  place  of  meeting. 
The  vigorous  crossed  this  bed  of  mud  in  the  dark  and  on 
foot  as  best  they  could.  But  Bro.  R.  F.  Tucker,  desiring 
that  the  rest  should  hear,  placed  them  in  a  strong  wagon. 


444  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

and  with  two  yokes  of  oxen  for  a  locomotive,  plunged  in, 
and  finding  stations  once  in  every  two  rods,  he  brought 
them  through !  I  never  saw  a  brighter  example  of  the 
'pursuit  of  knowledge  under  difficulties!  '  " 

Chester  Cooley  came  into  Eaton  from  Shalersville 
in  1837.  His  parents  and  some  of  the  family  fol- 
lowed. At  Bro.  Streator's  second  visit,  he  made  an 
appointment  at  the  center  of  the  town,  then  scarcely 
inhabited,  and  calling  at  Mrs.  Cooley's,  invited  her 
son  Lathrop,  then  a  youth,  to  go  with  him  to  meet- 
ing. He  did  so,  and  yielding  to  the  claims  of  the 
gospel,  he  was  introduced  by  baptism  into  the  king- 
dom. His  subsequent  career  of  public  life  is  well 
known  in  north-eastern  Ohio.  Immediately  on  his 
conversion,  his  heart  was  opened  to  speak  for  the 
Master.  He  entered  Bethany  College,  but  baffled 
by  the  want  of  funds  in  his  desires  for  a  training  in 
college,  he  fell  back  on  his  own  resources.  He 
erected  for  himself  a  neat  cabin  in  the  grove,  where 
he  instituted  his  own  college — himself  the  pupil  and 
the  professor.  "There,"  said  his  brother  Chester, 
thirty  years  afterward,  "  when  I  retired  at  night  his 
light  was  still  burning,  and  in  the  morning  at  first 
rising,  his  lamp  was  already  lighted."  By  such  dili- 
gence in  study,  his  "profiting"  became  manifest. 
The  church  which  heard  him  for  his  encouragement, 
soon  heard  him  for  their  profit.  After  a  time,  Wil- 
liam Hayden  discovering  his  gifts,  took  him  in  com- 
pany in  his  travels.  He  received  great  advantage 
from  the  counsel  and  experience  of  the  older  work- 
man. He  has  traveled  extensively  in  preaching  the 
glad  tidings,  and  has  been  equally  useful  as  pastor 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


445 


of  the  churches  in  North  Royalton,  Cleveland, 
Painesville,  and  Akron. 

Bro.  Streator  came  again  in  October,  1842,  and 
gathered  the  disciples,  numbering  twenty-five,  into 
church  relations.  J.  D.  Swift  was  appointed  the 
overseer,  and  J.  A.  Ferguson  deacon.  From  that 
day  the  church  has  never  ceased  its  meetings.  The 
zeal  of  the  new  converts  was  tempered  into  pru- 
dence by  some  older  members,  among  whom  stands 
brother  Ferguson,  of  age  and  experience  in  the  gos- 
pel. The  brethren  there  cherish  the  memory  of  the 
wise  and  faithful  labors  of  Bro.  M.  J.  Streator  with 
warm  gratitude.  A  brother  writes  :  "  Bro.  Streator 
continued  his  visits,  laboring  with  a  zeal  and  earnest- 
ness rarely  equaled.  This  dear  brother  must  ever 
live  in  sweet  recollection  in  the  memory  of  this 
band,  the  greater  part  of  whom  remain  to  this  pres- 
ent time,  but  some  are  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus." 

The  truth  rose  here  to  victory  and  power  amid  an 
ocean  of  opposition.  "  Orthodoxy,"  enshrined  in 
sacred  temples,  hurled  its  anathemas  against  it.  But 
its  assaults  rebounded  against  itself  with  destructive 
recoil.  At  one  time,  immediately  after  a  vigorous 
sermon,  before  a  large  audience  attempting  to  refute 
the  alleged  heresy,  a  young  man  solicited  baptism 
at  the  hands  of  Bro.  Streator.  Jordan  flowing  by, 
they  repaired  to  its  banks,  and  after  some  instruct- 
ive remarks,  the  holy  institution  was  administered 
in  the  presence  of  all  the  people  so  becomingly  and 
scripturally,  that  no  other  reply  was  needed  to  the 
abusive  harangue  they  had  just  heard.  The  foe  most 
difficult  to  dislodge  was  the  ignorance  of  the  peo- 
ple.   As  the  preacher  brought  strange  things  to 


446  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


their  ears,  naturally  enough  they  cried  out :  u  These 
people  have  a  new  Bible."  "  Mr.  Campbell  has  al- 
tered the  Bible  just  to  suit  his  views."  Not  a  few 
gave  credit  to  this  slander.  One  man  found  indubi- 
table proof  that  the  Bible  used  by  the  disciples  dif- 
fered from  his,  for  on  examination  he  found  a  book 
in  it  called  Philemon — no  such  book,  he  averred, 
being  in  his  Bible.  On  one  occasion  an  "  Elder"  of 
the  "  Latter-day  Saints  "  came,  and  in  a  long  discourse 
presented  the  claims  of  Mormonism.  Bro.  Streator 
proposed  a  reply.  The  two  "Elders"  refused  him 
the  opportunity  ;  but  the  proprietor  of  the  house 
consenting,  and  the  people  all  wishing  to  hear  the 
response,  the  youthful  defender  of  the  ancient  gos- 
pel, in  a  rejoinder  of  half  an  hour,  so  effectually  ex- 
posed the  new  delusion  that  nothing  was  left  to 
take  root  and  grow. 

The  congregation  received  early  and  able  assist- 
ance from  brethren  Green,  Moss,  and  O'Connor. 
Dr.  Butler,  of  Ridgeville,  a  physician  of  extensive 
practice,  who  had  great  weight  with  the  people,  met 
frequently  with  them. 

In  the  autumn  of  1843,  tne  location  of  the  church 
was  changed  to  the  center.  On  this  occasion  Jared 
Patchen  was  chosen  overseer,  and  Chester  Cooley, 
deacon. 

Bro.  J.  D.  Benedict  wrought  a  good  work  in  a 
few  visits  he  made  there  about  the  year  1845.  In 
that  year  the  church  erected  the  house  of  worship. 
He  attended  the  opening  of  it,  and  gave  some  able 
discourses.  With  the  voice  of  a  Stentor,  and  a  re- 
markable talent  in  music,  his  singing  and  sermons 
swept  like  a  torrent  over  the  assembly.    He  was 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


447 


first  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  a  lawyer 
of  acknowledged  ability.  At  this  time  he  held  the 
position  of  State's  Attorney  for  Lorain  County. 
With  a  frankness  and  independence  of  character,  as 
rare  as  remarkable,  he  saw  and  accepted  the  princi- 
ples of  reform  ;  and  closing  up  his  legal  profession, 
like  Paul,  he  gave  up  his  life  to  the  advocacy  of  the 
gospel. 

William  Hayden  was  frequently  with  the  brethren  ; 
and  William  Moody  is  also  well  remembered  "as 
handling  the  Universalists  without  mittens,  and 
often  charging  into  the  battery  of  Thomas  Paine." 
Successful  meetings  were  conducted  by  T.  J.  New- 
comb,  B.  F.  Perky,  and  the  lamented  Henry  Dixon. 
Calvin  Smith  left  there  ineffaceable  memories  of  the 
blessed  results  of  his  earnest  and  self-denying  serv- 
ices. 

In  1844,  Timothy  S.  Brewster,  of  experience  in 
church  affairs,  came  in  from  Rockport.  He  was  ap- 
pointed an  elder,  and  served  with  efficiency  till  his 
removal  to  Michigan,  in  1849.  About  this  time,  the 
brethren  received  new  strength  by  the  addition  to 
their  number  of  Raymond  Haven,  Sheldon  Streator, 
and  some  others  from  Shalersville.  Indeed,  the 
church  in  North  Eaton  grew  up  as  a  colony  from 
the  older  one  in  Shalersville ;  as  she,  in  turn,  became 
a  mother  of  the  young  and  vigorous  church  in  Bloom- 
ingdale,  Michigan.  This  congregation  increased, 
till  their  first  meeting-house  became  too  small.  A 
new  edifice  was  demanded,  which  was  completed  and 
dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Bro.  J.  H.  Jones, 
chaplain  in  the  42d  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteers, 


44^  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

under  Col.  Garfield,  who  was  at  home  on  furlough, 
conducted  the  dedicatory  services. 

And  what  shall  I  say  more  ?  Time  would  fail  to 
speak  of  Chas.  McDougall,  who,  while  a  student  in 
Oberlin,  rendered  them  efficient  aid  ;  of  Henry  Dixon, 
whose  voice  was  as  refreshing  as  rain  on  the  mown 
grass ;  of  W.  A.  Belding,  whose  cheerful  manner  and 
zeal  for  his  Master's  cause,  won  many  friends  ;  of 
John  Reed  also,  lucid  in  statement  of  truth,  and  able 
in  defending  it ;  of  Dana  Call,  whose  worth  excels  his 
renown,  faithful  in  Bible  study,  and  candid  to  a 
proverb.  With  Green,  J.  M.  Atwater,  the  Encells, 
likewise,  S.  Fairbanks  and  others,  whose  names  are 
dearly  remembered. 

Three  great  meetings  are  marked  in  the  more  re- 
cent history  of  this  congregation  :  One  in  i860,  led 
by  C.  C.  Foote ;  one  in  1861,  by  D.  S.  Burnett;  the 
other  in  1862,  conducted  by  H.  W.  Everest. 

To  the  home  membership  is  largely  due  the  credit 
of  the  success  of  the  effort  to  plant  and  sustain  the 
church  in  North  Eaton.  Where  there  is  no  faithful, 
well  drilled  soldiery  to  march  up  to  the  breastworks 
to  "man  the  ordnance "  and  stand  the  shock  of  bat- 
tle, protracted  meetings,  however  useful  as  helps, 
will  be  only  skirmishes.  Nothing  gives  permanency 
like  the  consolidated,  constant  labors  of  a  harmo- 
nious brotherhood  in  Christ. 

Youngstown. 

This  church  was  born  in  the  agonies  of  fierce  con- 
tention. In  no  place  does  the  history  of  the  plant- 
ing of  the  church  on  its  New  Testament  basis  dis- 
play a  greater  virulence  of  opposition. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


449 


In  March,  1841,  a  discussion  was  held  between  J. 
Hartzel  and  Rev.  Waldo,  a  Congregationalist,  which 
made  a  profound  impression.  Conversions  followed, 
and  a  number  of  Mr.  Waldo's  friends  were  baptized 
into  the  Lord  Jesus.  Along  with  this  result,  it  stim- 
ulated a  malignant  opposition  to  the  principles  of 
the  reformation.  The  watchmen  on  the  walls  of 
their  local  Zions  were  alarmed.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Board- 
man,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  sounded  the 
war-trumpet,  and  rushed  full  armed  into  the  arena. 
Elder  J.  J.  Stedman,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  panting 
for  more  laurels  than  he  had  won  on  the  martial 
fields  of  Newton  Falls,  Bedford,  and  Chagrin  Falls, 
encountered  Hartzel  here  in  a  discussion  of  two  and 
a  half  days,  on  the  question ;  "Is  baptism  in  any  case 
necessary  to  the  forgiveness  of  sins  ?"  All  the  stars 
of  that  firmament  in  their  courses  fought  against  the 
cause  represented  by  the  faithful  few  who  were 
striving  for  nothing  but  the  Christianity  of  the  New 
Testament.  The  members  banded  together.  The 
church  formed.  Brethren  Henry  and  Lanphear  sec- 
onded these  efforts  of  Hartzel.  Conversions  followed, 
and  the  cause  began  to  rise. 

In  August  of  this  year,  1842,  Mr.  Campbell  came 
to  the  Western  Reserve.  Touching  at  Fairfield, 
where  he  addressed  immense  congregations,  he 
passed  on  to  Warren,  and  addressed  the  public  on 
Christian  union,  and  on  education,  after  which  he 
proceeded  to  Youngstown. 

He  found  the  people  in  high  excitement  by  these 
recent  grossly  false  statements  of  the  views  of  the 
Disciples.  In  company  with  two  of  the  brethren, 
Mr.  Campbell  called  on  Rev.  Mr.  Boardman,  and 

38 


450  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

asked  him  to  do  in  his  presence  what  he  had  at- 
tempted when  he  had  no  respondent.  Mr.  Board- 
man's  courage  failed  him,  and  he  refused.  He  would 
not  permit  Mr.  Campbell  to  examine  his  manuscript, 
that  he  might  reply  fairly  to  his  erroneous  charges, 
nor  to  use  his  church,  nor  would  he  attend  and  hear 
him  on  the  same  subjects.  Mr.  Campbell  then,  in 
the  house  used  by  the  brethren,  in  the  presence  of  a 
very  large  audience,  after  briefly  rehearsing  his  in- 
terview with  Mr.  Boardman,  gave  so  able  and  can- 
did a  statement  of  his  true  position  as  to  gain  the 
feelings  of  a  large  portion  of  the  uncommitted  citi- 
zens in  their  favor. 

From  that  day  to  the  present,  the  light  has  never 
gone  out  of  the  church  in  Youngstown.  Bro.  J.  W. 
Lanphear  was  first  secured  as  its  pastor.  In  March, 
1843,  he  resigned,  and  returned  to  New  Lisbon. 

The  yearly  meeting  for  Trumbull  County  was  held 
this  year  in  Youngstown.  Great  expectations,  but 
with  very  different  states  of  feeling,  were  entertained 
in  respect  to  the  coming  convocation,  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  on  the  one  hand,  and  by  the  op- 
posers  on  the  other.  Preparations  were  ample,  yet 
no  one  looked  for  such  an  avalanche  of  the  brother- 
hood as  assembled  on  that  occasion.  Bro.  John 
Henry  was  the  president  of  the  meeting.  His 
energy  and  decision  came  into  full  play  in  the  man- 
agement of  so  great  a  multitude.  In  assigning  homes 
to  the  people  he  told  them  to  knock  at  a  brother's 
house,  and  they  would  see  what  sort  of  people  they 
are  within.  "  Mr.  Hornet,"  said  he,  "  is  a  very  clever 
gentleman  abroad  ;  but  just  knock  at  his  door  and 


IN  THE   WESTERN  RESERVE. 


451 


you  '11  soon  see  what  a  reception  you  will  meet  ! "  Mr. 
Campbell  says  of  this  meeting: 

Annual  Meetings  in  Ohio,  1843. 

The  meeting  in  New  Lisbon,  Columbiana  County,  was 
well  attended.  I  had  not  the  pleasure  of  being  present. 
Thirty-eight  were  added  by  baptism. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  brethren  in  Trumbull 
County,  at  Youngstown,  was  the  largest  assemblage  of 
persons  ever  witnessed  by  any  of  the  ministering  brethren 
present.  I  have  seen  very  large  religious  assemblies  in 
Virginia  and  Kentucky,  but  none  equal  to  this  one.  It 
was  variously  estimated  from  six  to  ten  thousand  persons. 
Had  it  been  a  political  meeting,  the  general  opinion  was 
that  it  would  have  been  put  down  at  ten  thousand.  Know- 
ing how  wont  men  are  to  exaggerate  in  numbers  on  such 
occasions,  I  choose  rather  to  regard  the  minimum  of  six 
or  seven  thousand  persons  as  more  nearly  approaching  the 
actual  number  in  attendance.  The  number  of  disciples 
present  probably  amounted  to  some  two  thousand. 

The  immense  audience  assembled  in  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  commodious  groves  in  the  immediate  envi- 
rons of  the  village  of  Youngstown,  which  was  courteously 
tendered  to  the  brethren  by  the  proprietor,  Mr.  Wick.  A 
tent  provided  by  the  brethren,  covered  only  some  two 
thousand  persons.  The  remainder,  covered  by  the  um- 
brageous boughs  of  a  dense  grove,  enjoyed  equal  comforts 
with  those  under  the  tent. 

During  the  whole  meeting  of  three  days  not  a  single 
accident  or  unpleasant  incident  occurred.  The  most  per- 
fect attention  and  good  order  seemed  universally  to  ob- 
tain. During  these  three  days  some  fifty  made  the  good 
confession,  and  were  baptized.  Many  ministering  breth- 
ren, probably  some  thirty  or  more,  were  present,  and  the 
meeting  was  truly  refreshing  and  peculiarly  pleasant  to  all. 

A.  Campbell. 


452  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


On  Saturday,  before  the  full  assembly,  Dr.  Eleazer 
Parmly,  of  New  York,  read  the  following  correspond- 
ence between  himself  and  Prof.  Charles  Anthon,  of 
Columbia  College,  N.  Y.  Prof.  Anthon,  as  a  classic 
authority,  has  no  superior  in  America.  Dr.  Parmly 
then  gave  the  letters  to  Mr.  Campbell  in  presence 
of  the  audience : 

"  No.  i  Bond  Street,  N.  Y.,  March  23,  1843. 
"Prof.  Charles  Anthon: 

"In  conversation  with  Dr.  Spring,  last  evening,  he  stated 
that,  in  the  original  the  word  baptism,  which  we  find  in 
the  New  Testament,  has  no  definite  or  distinct  meaning; 
that  it  means  to  immerse,  sprinkle,  pour,  and  has  a  va- 
riety of  other  meanings — as  much  the  one  as  the  other, 
and  that  every  scholar  knows  it;  that  it  was  the  only  word 
that  could  have  been  selected  by  our  Savior,  having  such 
a  variety  as  to  suit  every  one's  views  and  purposes.  May 
I  ask  you  if  your  knowledge  of  the  language  from  which 
the  word  was  taken  has  led  you  to  the  same  conclusion  ? 
and  may  I  beg  of  you  to  let  the  deep  interest  I  take  in 
the  subject  plead  my  apology. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect,  most  re- 
spectfully yours,  E.  Parmly." 

"  Columbia  College,  March  27,  1843. 

"Dr.  Parmly  : 

"  My  Dear  Sir — There  is  no  authority  whatever  for  the 
singular  remark  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Spring  relative  to 
the  force  of  bapiizo.  The  primary  meaning  of  the  word 
is  to  dip  or  immerse,  and  its  secondary  meanings,  if  ever 
it  had  any,  all  refer,  in  some  way  or  other,  to  the  same 
leading  idea.  Sprinkling,  etc.,  are  entirely  out  of  the 
question.  I  have  delayed  answering  your  letter,  in  the 
hope  that  you  would  call  and  favor  me  with  a  visit,  when 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


453 


we  might  talk  the  matter  over  at  our  leisure.  I  presume, 
however,  that  what  I  have  written  will  answer  your  pur- 
pose. Yours  truly, 

"Charles  Anthon." 

From  Campbell  and  Rices  Debate, pp.  171,  172. 

The  intrinsic  weight  of  authority  of  this  testi- 
mony, enforced  alike  by  the  noble  bearing  and  ear- 
nest manner  of  Dr.  Parmly,  gave  it  great  effect  with 
the  audience.  And  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Campbell,  in 
the  Lexington  debate,  which  followed  in  about  two 
months,  it  was  a  bolt  which  evidently  staggered  the 
mailed  Mr.  Rice. 

This  church  has  many  years  maintained  the  "unity 
of  the  spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace."  W.  S.  Gray, 
W.  S.  Hayden,  while  teaching,  have  also  preached 
for  the  congregation.  James  Calvin  has  rendered  a 
very  efficient  aid,  and  Dr.  Whitsler  also,  in  keeping 
up  the  meetings.  In  the  beginning  of  the  congre- 
gation, Bro.  John  Kirk,  by  his  talent  for  manage- 
ment, dash,  and  zeal,  contributed  very  much  to  the 
success  of  the  gospel  in  the  hands  of  Henry,  Hart- 
zel,  Jones,  and  Samuel  Church. 

Under  the  acceptable  pastorate  of  Bro.  C.  C. 
Smith,  the  church  is  rising  to  greater  strength. 
They  have  recently  completed  a  costly  and  elegant 
meeting-house,  and  are  in  a  position  to  command 
public  respect. 


454  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Lessons  of  our  Forty  Years'  Experience. 

I.  A  LL  the  experience  of  the  past  forty  years  con- 
firms  the  soundness  and  strength  of  our  posi- 
tion before  the  world.    This  position  is  embraced  in 
three  propositions : 

1st,  The  Bible  contains  God's  only  and  complete 
revelation  to  man. 

2d,  It  is  to  be  interpreted  by  the  ordinary,  estab- 
lished rules. 

3d,  It  is  to  be  interpreted  by  every  man  for  him- 
self. 

On  these  three  propositions  is  founded  a  broad 
corollary,  viz  :  The  Bible,  thus  interpreted,  will  in- 
evitably lead  Christendom  out  of  its  leopard-like  sec- 
tarianisms back  to  the  original,  divine  unity,  and  re- 
store to  the  church  her  lost  power  for  the  conversion 
of  the  world. 

On  this  bottom  we  put  to  sea.  Not  a  leak  has  yet 
been  found.  The  vessel  has  proved  herself  seaworthy. 
Her  hull  is,  as  sound  as  when  she  was  launched.  Not  a 
plank  has  stirred.  She  has  weathered  many  storms 
and  rode  out  many  tempests.  She  has  been  attacked 
by  the  war-crafts  of  nearly  all  nations,  and  is  proved 
to  be  invincible. 

Every  re-examination  of  the  ground  of  our  faith 
has  only  confirmed  it.  Why  should  it  not  ?  Jesus 
Christ,  our  crucified  and  risen  Lord,  the  reigning 
Sovereign  and  Monarch  of  the  whole  universe,  is  the 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


455 


only  object  personal  of  our  faith,  our  love,  and  our 
obedience;  and  the  whole  Bible  is  the  "testimony 
of  Jesus."  This  is  our  plea,  and  it  is  invulnerable. 
It  never  can  be  overthrown.  "  The  gates  of  hades 
shall  not  prevail  against  it."  It  can  not  be  im- 
proved. We  are  not  advocates  of  a  reformed  relig- 
ion, but  of  religion  itself.  Christ's  religion  can  not 
be  reformed.  He  is  himself  the  author  and  the 
finisher  of  his  most  holy  religion  ;  and,  like  himself, 
it  is  perfect.  This  to  proclaim,  this  to  defend,  on 
this  divine  basis  to  re-assemble,  and  re-incorporate 
the  divided  battalions  of  the  Captain  of  salvation  ; 
this  is  our  purpose,  our  work,  and  our  plea  before  the 
men  of  this  generation. 

II.  Our  forty  years'  experiences  teaches  the  ne- 
cessity of  a  due  adjustment  of  the  evangelical  and 
pastoral  work. 

Under  Walter  Scott  a  new  order  arose.  It  was 
given  to  him  to  blow  the  trumpet  of  the  gospel.  His 
work  was  purely  an  evangelism.  The  matters  of  the 
Christian  religion  are  classified  under  two  funda- 
mental departments — the  evangelical  and  the  ecclesi- 
astical ;  or,  the  gospel  and  the  church.  The  gospel 
is  prior  to  the  church.  The  evangelist  forms  and 
establishes  the  church.  This  work  accomplished, 
there  begins  another  class  of  agencies  specifically 
described  in  the  New  Testament :  This  is  the  elder- 
ship, or  pastorate  of  the  church. 

In  the  beginning,  the  recovery  of  the  ancient  gos- 
pel, as  a  lost  jewel,  so  startled  and  excited  all  hearts, 
and  the  success  attending  the  preaching  of  it  was  so 
marvelous  that  little  was  thought  of  but  the  speedy 
and  certain  capture  of  the  world  for  Christ.  The 


456 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


M  sects "  would  surrender,  or  be  blown  to  atoms. 
Nothing  was  looked  for  but  the  immediate  triumph 
of  the  gospel  over  all  opposition.  Nor  must  this 
ardent  hope  be  accounted  a  mere  enthusiasm,  or  be 
handed  over  to  the  credit  of  an  overestimate  of  the 
importance  of  the  views  of  the  gospel  just  then  freshly 
brought  to  light.  The  law  of  Moses  was  "  weak 
through  the  flesh  ; "  so,  under  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
there  is  a  human  side  in  the  affair.  Here  is  where 
the  failure  lies  of  realizing  the  high  hopes  of  the 
most  brilliant  success. 

Thoughtful  men  predicted  this  at  the  beginning. 
The  admirable  Osborne  saw  it,  and  lamented  the 
absence  of  a  system  for  holding  and  training  the 
converts.  William  Hayden  foresaw  confusion,  and 
a  coming  disappointment  of  the  mistaken  hopes  of 
the  more  ardent.  They  remonstrated  with  Scott, 
but  that  angel  of  the  tempest,  beholding  victory  on 
all  sides,  blew  louder  his  silver  trumpet  of  salvation, 
and  replied  :  "  O,  convert  the  people,  and  give  them 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  they  will  be  safe  ! "  Benajah 
Austin,  a  man  of  sense  like  a  governor,  said  to 
Bentley  and  Henry:  "You  must  stop;  the  longer 
you  go  on  the  worse  it  will  be.  It  will  come  to  con- 
fusion. If  you  go  on  twenty  years  in  this  way  it 
will  be  all  the  worse,  for  you  will  have  to  stop  at 
last.  There  must  be  suitable  men  appointed  to  take 
care  of  the  converts." 

No  one,  not  even  Scott,  consented  to  a  loose,  dis- 
organized state  of  the  churches.  Far  otherwise. 
The  scriptural  eldership,  the  discipline  and  edifica- 
tion of  the  converts,  were  the  subjects  of  early  and 
constant  discourse.    But  it  was  subordinate.    Is  it 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


457 


surprising,  then,  that  some  converts  fell  away?  that 
churches  languished,  and  that  numbers  of  them  fell 
into  dilapidation  and  were  extinguished  ?  If  the  due 
adjustment  of  these  two  agencies  had  been  suitably 
disposed  at  the  beginning,  it  would  have  resulted  in 
far  greater  strength  and  prosperity.  It  is  a  marvel 
that  the  churches  have  stood  so  well — a  proof  of  the 
truth  and  power  of  the  principles  of  our  pleading, 
rather  than  of  the  skill  or  wisdom  of  our  manage- 
ment. 

III.  It  was  a  mistake  to  start  so  many  churches. 
This  error  was  a  result  of  the  exuberance  of  evan- 
gelical zeal  already  noticed.  For  this  there  is  much 
apology  in  the  inexperience  attending  the  begin- 
nings of  the  enterprise,  and  still  more  in  the  lack 
of  men  to  maintain  the  ground  conquered  by  the  ag- 
gression of  the  heroic  evangelist.  These  cases  of 
neglected  congregations  are  referred  to  as  examples 
of  failure.  They  oppose  now  the  most  formidable 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  lifting  up  the  cause  into  new 
life. 

There  is  an  old  Latin  proverb  which  teaches  that 
"  it  is  right  to  learn,  even  of  an  enemy."  Other  re- 
ligious bodies  could  have  taught  us  wisdom,  if  we  had 
not  spurned  every  thing  that  the  fingers  of  "  secta- 
rianism" had  touched.  Perhaps  it  would  have  been 
no  less  wise  to  have  taken  a  few  hints  from  their  man- 
agement than  it  is  now  for  us  to  gather  up  the  needed 
lessons  from  a  retrospect  of  our  own.  Some  twenty- 
eight  years  ago  Episcopacy  set  its  eye  on  a  commu- 
nity within  the  limits  of  my  labors.  That  cause  was, 
in  all  respects,  feeble.  The  Presbyterian,  Congrega- 
tional, and  other  forms  of  belief,  cried  out :  "  If  a 
39 


458  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

fox  go  up  upon  it,  he  shall  even  break  down  their 
stone  wall."  The  reproach  passed  unheeded.  Every 
year,  not  one  excepted,  the  bishop  of  Ohio  has  made 
his  parochial  visit  to  this  feeble  parish.  Scarcely 
has  he  once  failed  to  14  confirm  "  new  members  of  the 
body.  The  interests  of  that  cause  have  been  looked 
after  with  a  vigilance  reflecting  credit  to  that  people ; 
and,  it  now  stands  as  a  monument  of  their  undevia- 
ting  perseverance.  Is  it  an  evidence  of  strength  in 
Episcopacy?  would  it  be  a  proof  of  weakness  in  us 
to  adopt  a  similar  policy  ?  Is  it  strength  there  and 
weakness  here?  Is  it  surprising  that  intelligent,  dis- 
cerning citizens,  casting  about  for  a  "home,"  turn 
from  a  people  where  they  see  evidences  of  looseness 
in  plan,  and  weakness  in  system,  and  yield  themselves 
up  in  membership  to  organized  bodies  who  conduct 
their  enterprises  systematically  and  successfully? 
Our  gospel  has  won  many  friends  who  have  been 
lost  to  us  through  feebleness  of  plan  and  want  of 
system. 

It  would  be  neither  wise  nor  just  to  heap  reproaches, 
as  is  the  habit  of  some,  upon  the  fathers  and  pioneers 
of  our  religious  work,  for  the  misdirected  efforts 
of  the  early  part  of  our  history.  This  wisdom  to  di- 
rect could  be  learned  only  by  experience.  And  this 
skillful  adjustment  of  materials  could  be  made  only 
when  there  were  materials  to  adjust  and  to  manage. 
But  on  us,  the  factors  of  this  age,  will  justly  rest  re- 
proach, if  with  the  past  as  a  lesson,  we  do  not  see 
where  to  improve.  Still  more,  if  seeing,  we  refuse, 
on  account  of  willfulness  or  indifference,  to  rectify 
our  errors  and  to  labor  for  reform  in  our  meth- 
ods. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


459 


IV.  The  Want  of  Records. 

In  the  opening  of  our  plea  on  the  Western  Re- 
serve the  iconoclast  was  among  us.  He  wrought  for 
us,  though  in  a  far  less  honorable  sense,  the  work 
which  Goethe  said  was  accomplished  by  Lord 
Bacon.  "  He  took  a  sponge  and  wiped  from  the 
tablet  all  records  of  former  knowledge." 

The  cry  ran — clear  away  the  rubbish,  that  the 
foundations  of  the  Lord's  house  may  be  laid.  Re- 
formation is  one  thing,  demolition  another,  and  resto- 
ration still  another.  Discrimination  did  not  well 
rule  the  hour.  No  records  were  kept  after  1828. 
Some  of  the  churches  thought  it  a  violation  of  this 
reformation  to  have  any  records  whatever,  even  a  list 
of  the  names  of  the  members.  There  was  no  au- 
thority for  it  in  the  word  of  the  Lord.  "  Where  the 
Scriptures  speak,  we  speak  ;  where  they  are  silent, 
we  are  silent."  The  noblest  of  rules  ;  but,  applied  to 
mere  prudentials,  most  egregiously  misapplied.  So, 
as  the  Scriptures  gave  no  instructions  about  church 
records  the  whole  matter  was  ruled  out  of  order,  and 
out  of  the  church. 

Alas  !  what  has  been  lost  by  this  misdirected  zeal ! 
The  zeal  was  good,  but  the  wisdom  was  the  essence 
of  folly.  What  would  we  not  give  now  for  a  contin- 
uance of  the  records  of  the  Mahoning  Association, 
which  met  two  years  under  that  name  after  the  records 
ceased  ?  Why  were  there  no  records  of  our  yearly 
meetings?  What  rich  and  abundant  materials  for 
future  history  and  instruction  ? 

Who  can  tell  us,  from  historic  data,  even  now  cor- 
rectly, about  our  debates,  and  the  mighty  campaigns 


460  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

which  have  given  us  so  many  communities  for  Jesus 
Christ  ?  Who  now,  from  any  preserved  records,  can 
tell  the  history  of  Henry,  that  swift  messenger  of 
the  glad  tidings  ?  In  vain  we  question  records  for 
an  account  of  his  conversion,  his  baptism,  and  how 
he  came  forth  from  being  a  driver  of  oxen  and  a  bu- 
gler for  regiments,  to  become  a  leader  in  the  embat- 
tled hosts  of  the  armies  of  the  living  God.  And 
Brockett,  the  blessed ;  and  Smith,  the  saint ;  and 
Collins,  the  colleague  of  the  honorable ! 

In  these  pages,  personal  knowledge  and  gathered 
data  have,  in  part,  supplied  this  lack.  But  this 
source  of  information  is,  with  the  passing  genera- 
tion, rapidly  going  down  to  the  dumb  grave ;  the 
silent  receptacle  of  all  things  human. 

The  scribe  was  a  man  of  high  authority  among  the 
Jews,  a  little  vain,  and  a  sweep  of  his  robe  somewhat 
too  ample.  The  horn  of  oil  made  the  nation  jubilant 
when  it  was  emptied  in  the  consecration  of  a  priest 
or  a  king.  But  the  horn  of  ink  has  made  many  na- 
tions joyful  by  its  recitals  of  their  deeds,  and  its 
transmissions  of  their  jubilees. 

Oh,  that  Scott  had  kept  a  diary !  that  our  earlier 
men  had  written  as  well  as  talked  !  Thanks  to  Bax- 
ter, whose  skill  and  zeal  have  evoked  from  the  tomb 
of  the  mighty,  a  history  distinguished  both  for  its 
beauty  and  its  truth.  Of  what  infinite  embarrass- 
ment would  he  have  been  relieved  by  contempora- 
neous records ! 

The  historic  muse  prepared  his  reed  to  sing  the 
illustrious  deeds  of  the  panoplied  pioneers,  not  in 
verse,  but  in  plain  and  humble  prose.  Yet  the  prose 
should  fall  little  below  the  powers  of  the  loftiest 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


461 


muses,  to  record  in  fitting  terms  the  grand  anthem 
of  their  heroism  and  their  triumph.  Shall  the  next 
generation  find  this  one  as  barren  of  records  as  we 
find  the  past  ? 

V.  Once  more.  All  our  past  history  proclaims 
the  necessity  of  a  combination  of  effort  to  advance 
the  gospel. 

This  cause  originated  in  conventional  effort.  After 
three  years  these  associational  plans  were  laid  aside, 
and  we  subsided,  on  this  point,  into  a  state  of  apostasy. 
During  the  last  twenty  years  we  have  been  slowly 
recovering  and  steadily  returning  to  our  first  works. 
In  August,  1827,  ministers  of  the  gospel  assembled  in 
New  Lisbon,  selected  an  evangelist,  and  sent  him  into 
the  field.  This  action  gave  us  Walter  Scott.  In  1828, 
the  churches  were  again  represented  by  delegation 
in  Warren.  This  convention  chose  and  sent  out 
Walter  Scott  and  William  Hayden.  In  1829,  the 
association  repeated  its  work,  sending  into  the  evan- 
gelical field  four  men — Scott,  Hayden,  Bentley,  and 
Bosworth. 

On  this  concert  of  action,  the  following  observa- 
tions deserve  particular  mention  : 

1st,  These  evangelists  were  selected  and  sent  out 
by  the  ministry  of  the  church,  acting  in  their  dele- 
gated capacity. 

2d,  This  joint  action  was  threefold: 

(a)  They  selected  ministers,  or  proclaimers  of  the 
gospel ; 

(b)  They  appointed  their  fields  of  labor ; 

(c)  They  arranged  for  their  compensation. 

3d,  The  churches  felt  bound  by  the  action  of  their 
delegates.    They  received  the  evangelists,  and  by 


462  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

contributions  and  other  material  ways  they  assisted 
and  co-operated  in  their  work. 

It  should  be  farther  noted,  that  Bro.  Campbell  was 
the  prime  mover  and  the  active  leader  in  this  scheme 
of  associational  effort  to  bring  an  evangelist  into  the 
field.  This  movement  was  conducted  with  the  most 
perfect  unanimity,  not  a  dissentient  in  that  body.  It 
was  the  action  of  the  soundest,  wisest,  most  delibera- 
tive, and  prudent  men. 

The  twenty  years  succeeding  is  the  period  of  our 
anarchy.  During  this  time  we  had  no  concert,  regu- 
lar or  irregular,  stated  or  incidental,  if  we  except 
some  ineffectual  efforts  to  bring  a  better  order  into 
existence.  The  great  saving  power  was  the  yearly 
meeting  system.  This,  serving  as  a  bond  of  union, 
was  a  powerful  support  to  the  cause.  These  meet- 
ings were  the  conservation  of  the  churches.  They 
were  aggressive,  adding  multitudes  of  converts.  By 
diffusing  a  general,  personal  acquaintance,  they  culti- 
vated a  strong  tie  of  brotherhood.  Yet  with  all  their 
benefits,  which  were  neither  few  nor  weak,  they  were 
not  organic.  They  sent  out  no  missionaries  ;  they 
called  for  no  reports  ;  they  performed  no  action  for 
the  churches,  nor  for  the  systematic  diffusion  of  the 
gospel.  They  came  as  a  cloud  with  blessings,  poured 
out  their  treasure  of  good,  and  departed. 

During  these  years  many  attempts  were  made  to 
form  co-operations.  They  were  failures.  The  cry 
of  priest-craft,  or  sectarianism,  was  alone  sufficient  to 
blast  the  effort  for  order. 

The  first  fact,  or  action,  which  gathered  to  it  a 
general  confidence,  was  the  establishment  of  the  Ec- 
lectic Institute.    It  opened  its  halls  for  students  in 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE.  463 

November,  1850.  Slowly  at  first,  amid  doubts  and 
opposition,  it  got  under  way.  It  gained  rapidly,  and 
won  the  confidence  of  all  the  brotherhood  in  north- 
eastern Ohio.  The  chief  glory  of  that  institution 
has  not  been  told :  which  was,  that  it  created  a  most 
desirable  and  useful  general  confidence  among  us. 
We  united.  We  joined  hands  around  one  good  en- 
terprise. The  purpose  succeeded,  and  vindicated 
the  most  useful  sentiment  of  union  in  action.  May 
this  lesson  never  be  lost.  As  the  noble  Eclectic  In- 
stitute, of  many  happy  memories,  has  not  died,  but 
has  succeeded  in  a  still  more  noble  and  useful  Insti- 
tution, our  beloved  Hiram  College — long  may  it  pros- 
per— so  let  this  general  unity  of  confidence,  to  which 
it  gave  birth,  grow  into  all  that  is  desirable  in  the 
formation  of  all  needful  plans  to  send  forth  the  gos- 
pel as  at  the  beginning  of  our  blessed  work.  This 
confidence  is  transferring  itself  to  our  missionary 
work.  Around  this  society  let  it  rally  till  it  shall  be- 
come a  permanent  power  in  the  land! 

VI.  Last,  but  not  Least. 

As  this  blessed  cause,  so  dear  to  our  hearts, 
has  maintained  itself  in  all  vicissitudes,  has  braved 
all  opposition,  and  still  flourishes  with  little  combina- 
tion among  its  leaders,  will  our  forty  years'  experience, 
if  questioned,  speak  out  and  tell  us  the  reason  ?  I 
answer  most  unequivocally,  it  will.    Its  answer  is  in 

2  Tim.  4:  1,  2.    "  preach  the  word!"  This 

is  the  only  solution.    This  answer  is  complete. 

Ask  the  blessed  dead,  they  will  tell  you  ;  the  Apple- 
gates,  the  Altons,  the  Bosworths,  the  Brocketts,  and 
the  Bentleys  ;  the  Collins,  the  Clapps ;  the  Haydens, 


464  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


the  Henrys,  and  the  Smiths  ;  the  Otises,  the  Waits, 
and  the  Violls.  They  preached  the  gospel.  They 
were  no  mere  essayists.  They  were  not  theorizers, 
nor  speculatists.  They  preached  Christ  and  him 
crucified.  In  this  they  were  a  unit.  The  same  gos- 
pel was  preached  in  every  town,  county,  and  school 
district.  They  used  their  Bibles.  They  read,  quoted, 
illustrated,  and  enforced  the  Holy  Scriptures.  This 
lesson  is  all  important.  .  We  must  "  preach  the  word," 
not  something  about  the  gospel,  but  the  gospel  itself. 
Some  of  our  preachers  should  sit  at  the  feet  of  the 
departed  veterans,  and  learn  to  speak  and  enforce 
Bible  themes  in  Bible  words.  Let  us  have  more 
Scripture,  in  its  exact  meaning  and  import ;  more 
gospel,  more  of  Jesus,  his  will,  his  mission,  and  his 
work.  This  was  their  power.  It  will  be  ours.  Most 
of  all,  and  last  of  all,  we  impress  this  lesson  :  preach 
the  gospel  in  season,  out  of  season.  Preach  it  as 
Peter  preached,  as  Paul  preached  it.  Be  not  weak, 
nor  ashamed  of  its  facts,  commands,  and  promises, 
as  delivered  to  us  by  our  fathers  ;  and  to  them  by  the 
holy  apostles. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


465 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

AN  ABBREVIATED  ACCOUNT    OF  CHURCHES  OMITTED, 
OR  RECENTLY  ORGANIZED. 


Alliance,  Stark  Co. — Organized  March,  1857,  with  thirty  mem- 
bers, by  P.  K.  Dibble.  Elders;  Asa  Silvers  and  Elwood  Pat- 
terson. Deacons;  Mathias  Hester,  H.  H.  Hubbard,  and 
Edward  Pettit.  Preachers  succeeding  Bro.  Dibble  ;  A.  B.  Way, 
J.  Pinkerton,  Isaac  Errett,  J.  H.  Jones,  F.  M.  Green,  E.  L. 
Frazier.  Present  number,  three  hundred  and  thirty-five.  El- 
ders; A.  W.  Coates,  J.  W.  Phillips.  Deacons;  M.  Hester, 
Saml.  Miller,  J.  C.  Sheets,  Wm.  Watson,  J.  C.  Sutton,  J.  M. 
Fogle,  G.  W.  Thornberg. 

Auburn,  Geauga  Co. — Formed  April  10,  1841,  with  twenty-nine 
members,  by  A.  S.  Hayden.  R.  Granger,  overseer;  John 
Brown  and  Jonathan  Burnet,  deacons.  This  church  has  been 
aided  by  most  of  the  preachers.  They  have  a  good  house,  and 
continue  to  meet. 

Bazetta,  West,  Trumbull  Co. — Organized  December  16,  1848, 
by  Calvin  Smith,  with  forty  members.  Levi  Bush  and  Alden 
Faunce,  overseers;  Ellis  Pierce,  Jas.  Sage,  and  Jacob  Dice, 
deacons.  This  church  has  received  help  from  most  of  the 
preachers.  Present  elders;  Hiram  Wilber,  Milo  Crawford. 
Deacons;  Jacob  Shaffer,  John  Wier,  and  Jas.  Wier.  One  hun- 
dred and  four  members. 

Birmingham,  Erie  Co. — Began  in  1829,  by  Clapp  and  Rigdon,  un- 
der whose  influence  Elder  Orrin  Abbott  led  the  chief  part  of 
the  Baptist  church  of  Henrietta  into  the  reformation.  Hay- 
den, Moss,  Green,  and  Moody,  followed  up  the  work.  Church 
was  reorganized  July,  1841,  with  Almon  Andress  and  D.  B. 
Turner,  elders;  and  Silas  Wood,  Abner  Hancock,  and  Wm. 
Parker,  deacons.    Other  leading  helps;  John  Cyrenius,  B.  Al- 


466  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


ton,  W.  O'Connor,  J.  Encell,  and  R.  G.  White.  Bio.  G.  W. 
Mapse,  of  Illinois,  arose  in  this  church. 
Brookfield,  Trumbull  Co. — The  ground  was  broken  as  early  as 
1828  by  Hayden,  Henry,  and  Hartzel.  A  church  was  formed 
there  February  22,  1875,  with  thirty-three  names.  Deacons, 
Robert  S.  Hart  and  Henry  Hamilton.  Present  number,  fifty- 
eight.  Arnold  Taylor,  Henry  L.  Patterson,  and  Jesse  Hoag- 
land,  overseers. 

Bristol,  North,  Trumbull  Co. — In  i860,  H.  Reeves  baptized 
twenty-eight.  In  1868,  J.  N.  Smith  added  fifty-five,  when  by 
him  and  N.  N.  Bartlett,  the  church  was  organized  with  ninety- 
two  members.  The  elders  were  Hiram  Thayer  and  A.  A. 
House.  The  deacons  :  Jacob  Sager  and  S.  A.  Davidson.  A 
live  church  with  a  good  house.  Dr.  I.  A.  Thayer  and  D.  P. 
Thayer,  preachers,  arose  here.  E.  Wakefield  has  been  a  chief 
support  of  the  church. 

Camden,  Lorain  Co. — Organized  May  21,  1842,  with  five  names; 
John  Cyrenius,  elder.  Established  in  Kipton,  November  27, 
1872,  with  thirty-eight.  Daniel  Kingsbury  and  R.C.  Eastman, 
elders  ;  deacons,  H.  H.  Crandall  and  James  Van  Dusen.  Pres- 
ent number  one  hundred  and  thirty-four.  Officers  :  James  Van 
Dusen,  Wm.  Anderson,  and  Hiram  Prentice,  elders :  deacons, 
H.  H.  Crandall,  Chauncey  Close,  Wm.  Douglass,  and  Frank 
Danzy.    Pastor,  James  Vernon. 

Chester,  Geauga  Co. — At  the  instance  of  W.  A.  Lillie  and  A. 
Harper,  Bro.  Hartzel  came  in  October,  1842,  when  the  meet- 
ings began  and  continued.  Reorganized  October,  1852,  by  C. 
Smith  and  A.  L.  Soule.  Alonzo  Matthews,  overseer  ;  Cyrus 
Millard  and  A.  Scott,  deacons.  A.  Burns,  W.  A.  Lillie,  and 
J.  G.  Coleman,  efficient  helps.  Present  officers  :  C.  Millard, 
A.  Harper,  and  C.  H.  Welton,  elders;  Porter  Scott  and  Albert 
Phinney,  deacons.    About  forty  members. 

Denmark,  Ashtabula  Co. — Planted  January,  1857,  by  Orrin  Gates. 
It  had  sixteen  members;  S.  S.  Chapman  and  D.  G.  White, 
overseers.  This  body  dissolved  in  a  few  years,  but  it  lives  in 
its  representatives.  Four  preachers  came  from  it,  viz.  :  S.  S. 
Chapman,  and  the  three  brothers  H.  J.  White,  D.  J.  White, 
and  R.  G.  White. 

Edinburg,  Portage  Co. — In  1865,  a  church  of  thirty  members  was 
planted  here  by  S.  S.  Chapman,  with  Wm.  Cowell  and  Cyrus 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


467 


Turnbull,  elders  ;  and  Jesse  Rogers  and  George  Stump,  dea- 
cons. Succeeding  helps :  E.  Wakefield,  F.  M.  Green,  B.  A. 
Baker,  D.  C.  Hanselman.  Present  number  sixty-five.  Linas 
Rogers,  preacher.  Three  preachers,  brothers,  have  arisen 
here,  viz.  :  Edwin  Rogers,  Linas  Rogers,  and  W.  H.  Rogers, 
sons  of  Jesse  Rogers. 
Elyria,  Lorain  Co. — It  began  in  the  tour  of  Clapp  and  Rigdon 
in  1829.  Wm.  Hayden  soon  came,  followed  by  Green,  Moody, 
and  Jones.  Church  formed  in  1832.  It  increased  till  there 
were  forty  members.  Chief  men :  Herrick  Parker,  H.  Red- 
dington,  Asahel  Parmly,  Dr.  Butler.  It  expired  by  removals. 
J.  D.  Benedict  came  into  the  work  here,  leaving  the  bar  to 
plead  the  gospel,  in  which  he  won  many  converts,  and  a  wide 
reputation. 

Fairfield,  North,  Huron  Co. — At  the  request  of  Ezra  Leonard, 
A.  B.  Green  came  July  4,  1835.  ^n  !^3^  he  returned,  accom- 
panied by  J.  J.  Moss,  when  the  church  began,  with  Jonas 

Leonard  and    McLain,  elders.    W.  A.  Lillie,  Dana 

Call,  and  Wm.  Dowling,  continued  the  work.  In  1854  the 
church  was  organized  in  North  Fairfield  with  over  thirty  mem- 
bers, by  the  lamented  Henry  Dixon,  whose  preaching  created 
a  wide  and  profound  interest.  Many  also  united  under  the 
preaching  of  A.  Burns.  Present  elders:  Isaiah  Cline,  D.  H. 
Reed,  and  Bro.  Culbertson. 

Fowler,  Trumbull  Co. — Started  January,  1832,  with  thirty  mem- 
bers, by  J.  Applegate,  assisted  by  A.  S.  Hayden.  Early  evan- 
gelists ;  Wm.  Hayden,  Bosworth,  and  Allei  ton.  Reorganized 
March,  1851,  by  C.  Smith  and  J.  T.  Phillips,  with  thirty-five 
members.  Elders,  A.  W.  Porter  and  Milo  Dugan  ;  deacons,  J. 
L.  Jones,  Menville  Tyrrell.  Succeeding  elders,  A  Humeston, 
Chas.  Fowler,  H.  C.  Williamson,  and  David  Campbell.  Dea- 
cons following  :  Hiram  Porter,  James  McCleery,  Alex  Camp- 
bell, Addison  Dawson,  Jasper  Kingsley.  Present  officers;  A. 
Dawson,  Lewis  Alderman,  Menville  Tyrrell,  overseers  ;  N.  C. 
Fisk  and  S.  J.  Rand,  deacons. 

Geneva,  Ashtabula  Co. — Formed  October  17,  1868,  with  thirty-four 
members,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Ohio  Missionary  Society. 
Present,  R.  R.  Sloan,  Isaac  Eirett,  A.  S.  Hayden;  elders, 
A.  S.  Turney,  Edward  Brakeman  ;  deacons,  E.  D.  Gage,  F.  C. 
Baur,  and  H.  N.  Amidon.    Present  elders,  A.  S.  Turney  and 


468  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Frederick  Dickinson;  deacons,  D.  Foot  and  H.  Saunders. 
Number  of  members,  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven. 

Hamden,  Geauga  Co. — This  church  originated  in  the  labors  of  Rig- 
don  and  Collins.  By  the  latter  it  was  formed  in  1829.  Geo. 
Hale,  overseer;  John  Bartholomew,  deacon.  Sustained  chiefly 
by  Thos.  Campbell,  Clapp,  and  Collins.  In  1848  there  were 
yet  twenty-four  members.  Sometime  after  this  it  ceased  to 
meet. 

Huntsburg,  Geauga  Co. — It  arose  in  1829,  by  the  labors  of  Hay- 
den,  Henry,  Collins,  and  Saunders.  Brethren  Howells,  Cha- 
pin  Moss,  Brackett,  and  Clarke,  stood  long  and  firmly  on  the 
ground.  In  1848  they  enrolled  still  twenty-three  members. 
Lillie,  A.  P.  Jones,  Robison,  and  White,  have  also  rendered 
important  service  there.  A  number  of  members  still  hold  the 
house,  and  represent  the  church. 

Hamilton's  Corners,  Medina  Co. — This  congregation  arose  in 
the  labors  of  J.  Encell.  It  was  organized  by  A.  B.  Green, 
July  23,  1871,  with  thirty-six  members.  The  overseers  are  S. 
T.  Adams  and  Chas.  Kenyon  ;  W.  H.  Floyd  and  O.  Birchard, 
deacons.  Brethren  Moody,  Gibbs,  and  I.  A.  Searles,  have 
been  helps.    Present  number,  sixty-three. 

Hartsgrove,  Ashtabula  Co. — Formed  November,  1854,  by  C. 
Smith  and  O.  Gates.  J.  Bartholomew  a  frequent  aid.  Lead- 
ing members  ;  A.  Watson,  N.  Hubbard,  I.  Y.  McKinney,  and 
Edward  Lee.    Present  number,  sixty-five. 

Hartford,  Trumbull  Co. — Began  in  the  labors  of  Hayden  and  M. 
Bosworth.  Formed  May  I,  1830,  by  Hayden,  with  twenty-two 
members.  Geo.  W.  Bushnell,  overseer;  Elihu  Bates,  deacon. 
In  1838,  Alex.  Spears  was  chosen  elder;  and  John  Bates,  dea- 
con. Orris  Mason,  J.  B.  Jones,  Sam'l  Bates,  and  Abner  Ban- 
ning, have  also  served  as  deacons.  Present  overseers,  G.  W. 
Bushnell  and  James  Fowler.    Number,  fifty. 

HlNKLEY,  Medina  Co. — Organized  February,  1870,  with  fifty-four 
members  at  the  close  of  a  successful  meeting  held  by  R.  Moffett. 
Dr.  G.  S.  Gillett  and  Geo.  E.  Weber,  elders;  John  Mussen, 
Lewis  Finch  (now  deceased),  C.  J.  Green,  and  Rich  d  Dun- 
ham, deacons.  H.  N.  Allen  preached  four  years  there ;  now 
H.  B.  Cox.    A  good  church  property. 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


469 


Howland,  Trumbull  Co. — In  1828  there  arose  a  church  in  Rowland, 
supported  mostly  by  the  brothers  Drake,  a  noble  family  of  de- 
voted Christians,  and  Zephaniah  Luce,  Lewis  Heaton,and  other 
families.  It  is  dear  for  the  faithfulness  of  its  members,  and  for 
the  labors  of  all  the  early  preachers;  the  Campbells,  Scott, 
Bentley,  Hayden,  Henry,  Bosworth,  Hartzel,  and  many  others. 
The  church  holds  the  ground  still  for  the  Lord. 

Jackson,  North,  Trumbull  Co. — Planted  in  the  fall  of  1852,  by 

C.  Smith,  with  fifty  persons.  •  Reorganized  May  23,  1874,  by 
H.  D.  Carlton,  with  thirty-four  members.  Elders,  W.  B. 
Dean  and  Joseph  Pierce ;  deacons,  Jas.  Russell,  Geo.  Shively, 
and  Christian  Shively.  Mary  Shively,  Mary  Anthony,  and 
Belinda  Kirkpatrick,  are  the  deaconesses.  Present  number, 
forty. 

Little  Mountain,  Lake  Co. — Organized  by  D.  Otis,  April  6,  1843. 
Forty-seven  members.  D.  Otis  and  E.  J.  Ferris  were  the  over- 
seers ;  Wm.  T.  Rexford  and  Chas.  Tuttle,  deacons.  It  sur- 
vived the  death  of  its  founder,  the  zealous  Dexter  Otis,  a  few 
years.  In  December,  1857,  it  ceased  to  meet,  and  the  mem- 
bers united  with  contiguous  churches. 

m 

Middlebury,  Summit  Co. — Started  March  30,  1875,  with  ninety 
members,  under  the  labors  of  R.  G.  White,  aided  by  H.  J. 
White,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  church,  with  Dr.  M.  Jewett 
and  Almon  Brown,  as  associate  elders,  and  T.  H.  Botsford 
and  Geo.  F.  Kent,  deacons. 

Montville,  Geauga  Co. — Dr.  Lucius  A.  Baldwin  solicited  Q.  Gates 
to  come,  who  added  fifteen,  and  organized  the  church,  Febru- 
ary 12,  i860,  with  seventeen.  Dr.  Baldwin  and  John  Murray, 
overseers;  Steven  Case,  first  deacon.  The  church  prospered. 
Anson  Shaw,  superintendent  of  the  Bible-school.  Meetings 
have  been  held  by  Gates,  Burns,  R.  G.  White,  Hanselman, 
Ingram,  Wakefield,  and  Thayer.  N.  P.  Lawrence  is  their 
preacher. 

Morgan,  (Rock  Creek,)  Ashtabula  Co. — Church  formed  May  4, 
1874,  with  over  a  hundred  members.  The  elders  are  M.  Brc- 
tell,  D.  S.  Bacheldor,  and  H.  Pifer ;  deacons,  J.  Knowlton, 

D.  R.  Phillips,  H.  Moses,  and  V.  D.  Latimer.  They  have 
an  active  Sunday-school,  and  a  valuable  house,  for  which 
they  owe  much  to  the  liberality  of  Mrs.  Randall. 


470  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

Niles,  Trumbull  Co. — In  1842,  H.  Brockett  and  J.  Henry  built  up 
the  church  with  90.  Joshua  Carle  and  A.  J.  Luse  were  the  first 
elders ;  Lewis  Heaton,  Abner  Fenton,  and  Jacob  Robinson, 
were  deacons.  Present  officers:  Benjamin  Leach  and  L.  L. 
Campbell,  overseers.  Bro.  H.  Baldwin  served  24  years — re- 
cently deceased ;  deacons,  H.  J.  Mason,  Lewis  Reel,  and  Ste- 
phen Dunlap.  Present  membership,  one  hundred.  N.  N. 
Bartlett,  pastor. 

Norton,  Medina  Co. — This  arose  from  the  church  in  Wadsworth. 
It  was  organized  in  1837.  It  had  about  twenty  members.  A. 
B.  Green  and  Gad  Bronson,  overseers;  John  Bunnell  and 
Ananias  Derthick,  deacons.  The  Bennetts,  E.  Spicer,  C. 
Beckwith,  S.  Tyler,  Philander  and  Calvin  Green,  were  leading 
members.  It  continued  till  1863.  P.  Green  arose  here,  and 
also  L.  L.  Carpenter,  of  Indiana. 

Orange,  North,  Cuyahoga  Co. — Formed  by  A.  S.  Hayden  and  M. 
N.  Warren,  June  28,  1845,  with  fifteen  members.  It  increased 
to  about  seventy.  The  elders  from  the  first  were  Wm.  T. 
Hutchinson,  Ira  Rutherford,  Selah  Shirtliff,  Silas  Y.  Dean, 
Wm.  Shelden  and  Allen  Tibbitts ;  deacons,  Ira  Rutherford, 
Allen  Tibbitts,  Wm.  Shelden,  Marcus  Lindsley,  Henry  Hal- 
sted,  Luther  Battles,  Jr.,  and  Addison  Hoose.  After  twenty 
years  of  useful  history,  emigration,  the  foe  of  churches,  ended 
its  existence. 

Orange,  South. — Planted  March  2,  1845,  by  Bentley  and  Wm. 
Hayden.  It  had  seventeen  members.  Amos  Boynton  and 
Zenas  Smith  were  the  overseers ;  W.  A.  Lillie,  M.  N.  Warren, 
and  Solyman  Hubbell,  were  useful  helps. 

Russell,  Geauga  Co. — In  1841,  Wm.  Hayden  began  preaching 
here.  In  the  fall  of  1842,  W.  A.  Lillie  came.  The  "first 
fruits"  were  reaped  by  Hayden,  June  10,  1843,  *n  f°ur  con- 
verts. Others  were  baptized  by  Lillie.  The  church  was 
formed  with  fifteen  members,  by  Chas.  F.  Bartlett.  A.  L. 
Myren,  and  Benj.  Soule,  the  Robisons,  with  Lillie,  S.  Robin- 
son, and  Matthews,  were  chief  members.  The  church  was 
built  up,  first  by  Hayden,  Bentley,  and  Lillie  ;  then  by  C. 
Smith,  I.  Errett,  and  Jones ;  later  by  A.  Burns  and  J.  G. 
Coleman.  Elder  S.  R.  Willard  united  here  from  the  Baptists. 
In  this  church  H.  W.  Everest,  late  Prest.  of  Eureka  College, 


IN  THE  WESTERN  RESERVE. 


471 


now  of  Kentucky  University,  was  ordained  by  A.  Bentley  and 
Isaac  Errett,  April  18,  1855.  W.  B.  Hendryx  began  here  his 
useful  career. 

SOUTHINGTON,  Trumbull  Co. — An  old,  stable  church.  Most  of  ihe 
Baptists  accepted  the  principles  of  reform,  when  this  congrega- 
tion started  in  1828,  under  T.  Campbell, — by  whom  Sam'l 
Haughton  was  baptized, — and  Scott  and  Applegate.  It  has 
always  kept  the  light  burning,  and  now  numbers  about  one 
hundred.  Present  elders:  Wm.  Bronson,  Wm.  Haughton, 
and  Harvey  McCorkle ;  deacons,  Henry  A.  Haughton,  and 
Charles  Wannemaker,  who  is  clerk. 

Solon,  Cuyahoga  Co. — This  church  has  a  rich  history.  It  arose  by 
the  labors  of  W.  Hayden  and  A.  Bentley,  when  S.  Norton,  H. 
Baldwin,  S.  D.  Kelley,  L.  S.  Bull,  C.  Jewett,  and  others 
moved  in  from  Aurora.  The  church  was  reorganized,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1841,  by  M.  L.  Wilcox.  Simon  Norton,  S.  D.  Kelley, 
elders ;  Henry  Baldwin,  C.  Jewett,  and  L.  S.  Bull,  deacons. 
In  March,  1842,  E.  Williams  held  a  meeting,  when  J.  M. 
Hickox  and  wife,  and  many  others  united.  Most  of  the  preach- 
ers have  held  successful  meetings  here — Jones,  Green,  Hart- 
zel,  and  Perky.  As  regular  supplies,  Garfield, Everest,  Hins- 
dale, Hill  ;  present  pastor,  C.  M.  Hemry.  Chief  men  in  later 
times,  C.  B.  Lockwood  and  E.  C.  Parmlee.  Present  num- 
ber, one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Thompson,  Geauga  Co. — Formed  January  1,  1848,  by  E.  J.  Ben- 
jamin, with  thirty  names.  Jacob  Norman  and  Simon  Baur, 
elders  ;  Paul  Baur  and  Hiram  Stevens,  deacons.  Bro.  O.  Gates 
was  a  frequent  and  efficient  help,  by  whom  many  were  added  j 
alsoH.  Reeves,  E.  Wakefield,  and  J.  W.  Errett.  Later,  J.  G. 
Encell,  R.  G.  White,  J.  W.  James,  Bartlett,  Ingram  and 
Cook.  Present  number,  seventy,  with  Chas.  W.  Foot  and 
Simon  Baur,  elders;  and  Paul  Baur,  Lewis  Keener,  and  Henry 
Malin,  deacons. 

Trumbull,  East,  Ashtabula  Co. — October,  1858,  Bro.  Gates,  as- 
sisted by  J.  G.  Encell,  held  a  meeting  here,  ending  with 
twenty-eight  conversions,  when  the  church  started  with  forty- 
five  names.  Wm.  Nelson  was  elder ;  and  Harvey  Curtiss,  dea- 
con. H.  Reeves  and  J.  Bartholomew,  were  cooperating 
preachers. 


472  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 


Warrensville,  Cuyahoga  Co. — The  Mormons  having  made  inroads 
here,  A.  Bentley,  following  them  up,  rescued  several,  and  bap- 
tized Mrs.  Louisa  Hubbell,  in  May,  1831.  The  church  was  set 
up  by  \Ym.  Hayden  and  J.  J.  Moss.  Isaac  Moore  was  a  leading 
member.  The  brethren  of  Newburg  and  Cleveland  met  with 
them.  Soon  Solyman  Hubbell  and  A.  T.  Hubbell  were  ap- 
pointed elders.  Moses  Warren,  baptized  at  the  yearly  meet- 
ing in  Newburg,  1835,  was  a  deacon  and  an  elder.  In  De- 
cember, 1842,  a  meeting  was  held  by  Collins,  Alton,  and  A.  S. 
Hoyden,  resulting  in  forty-nine  conversions.  In  September, 
1843,  a  great  yearly  meeting  was  held  there  by  Hartzel,  E.  A. 
Smith,  of  Ky.,  and  eleven  other  preachers.  The  church  flour- 
ished many  years,  till  it  was  dismembered  by  death  and  re- 
movals. 

Willoughby,  Lake  Co. — The  members  on  Waite  Hill  and  about 
Willoughby  were  congregated  as  a  church  in  that  town,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1873,  under  the  auspices  of  the  O.  S.  Miss.  Society, 
R.  R.  Sloan  and  A.  S.  Hayden  officiating.  Elders,  A.  B. 
Green  and  W.  A.  Lillie  ;  deacons,  H.  H.  Hall  and  H.  J.  Randall. 
It  began  with  thirty-nine  names.  Present  number,  eighty.  It 
has  a  good  Sunday  School,  and  is  flourishing  under  the  charge, 
as  preacher,  of  A.  B.  Green. 

Sullivan,  Ashland  Co. — The  church  in  Sullivan  was  established 
through  the  agency  of  Sylvanus  Parmly  and  his  amiable 
family.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  much  intelligence  and  weight 
of  influence  in  the  county.  He  and  his  family  learned  the 
gospel  in  Elyria.  In  the  year  1832,  having  moved  to  Sullivan, 
he  opened  meetings.  At  his  instance  Wm.  Hayden  came  ;  his 
singing  and  sermons  won  the  people,  and  fourteen  were  asso- 
ciated as  a  church.  A  fiery  opposition,  cruel  in  its  perversions 
of  truth,  assailed  the  work,  but  it  was  nobly  defended  by  the 
intelligent  sisters  as  well  as  the  brethren.  Moss,  Green 
and  Moody,  heroically  seconded  their  efforts;  John  Henry 
held  there  successful  meetings,  as  did  also  John  Reed  and 
James  Porter.  In  June,  1838,  under  Bro.  Reed's  labors,  J.  P. 
Mann  and  Milo  Carlton,  now  of  Kansas,  with  many  others, 
turned  to  the  Lord.  Bro.  Moody  and  G.  W.  Lucy  conducted 
a  meeting  which  resulted  in  bringing  in  twenty-seven  converts. 
M.  L.  Wilcox  gave  powerful  support  to  the  cause.  All  these 
brethren  and  others,  especially  the  first  named,  watered  the 
seed  sown,  and  on  that  field  many  ripe  sheaves  have  been 
reaped  by  the  Lord  of  the  harvest.  Few  churches  have  been 
more  severely  tried,  yet  it  still  keeps  its  light  burning. 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  Eld.  Orrin,  465. 
Advent  of  Mormonism,  309. 
Akron  and  Middlebury,  355 ;  revived, 
357- 

Allerton,  A.,  321,  323. 
Alliance,  church,  465. 
Alton,  B.,  biography  of,  300. 
Amend,  Wm.,  conversion,    75 ;  letter 
from,  79. 

Anecdote,  43,  108,  122,  169,  356,  360,  366, 
368,  372,  380,  38a. 

Akron  and  Middlebury,  church,  355. 

Anthon,  Prof,  testimony  of,  452. 

Applegate,  John,  biography  of,  275. 

Association,  Christian,  44. 

Association,  Mahoning,  20  ;  constitution 
and  creed,  25  ;  in  Canfield,  34  ;  in  New 
Lisbon,  54;  in  Warren,  161;  in  Sha- 
ron, 270;  in  Austintown,  295;  dis- 
solved, 2y6. 

Atwater,  D.,  237,  238  ;  biography,  242. 

Auburn,  church,  465. 

Aurora,  church,  375. 

Austin.  Benajah,  92,  456. 

Austintown,  church  arising,  127;  or- 
ganized, 132. 

Bainbkidge,  Church,  380. 
Baptism,  first  in  Cleveland  by  the  Dis- 
ciples, 419. 
Bartlett,  Chas.  F.,  393. 
Bartlett,  Walter,  309,  310. 
Bazetta,  Baconsburg,  church,  281. 
Bazetta,  West,  church,  465. 
Beardslee,  J.  O.,  biography,  398. 
Bedford,  church,  387. 
Belding,  W.  A.,  339,  344. 
Belief  of  the  church  in  Wellsburg,  31. 
Benedict,  J.  D.,  446,  467. 
Bentley,  A.,  19,  91;  biography,  102. 
Birmingham,  church,  465. 


I  Bloomfield,  North,  church,  300;  reor- 
ganized, 304. 

Bloomingdale,  Mich.,  church,  447. 
1  Board  of  managers,  Miss.  Society,  397. 

Booth,  Rev.  Ezra,  250,  251,  252. 

Bosworth,  Cyrus,  biography,  109. 

Bosworth,  Marcus,  biography,  136. 
I  Braceville,  church,  136,  139. 
j  Bristol,  North,  church,  466. 
!  Brockett,  H.,  biography,  307 ;   in  Sha- 
lersville,  337. 

Brookfield,  church,  466. 

Brown,  O.  E.,  159. 

Burnet,  D.  S.,  385,  448. 

Brunswick,  {Pompey  Street),  432. 

Burns,  A.,  466,  467,  470. 

Burton,  church,  234. 

Butler,  Dr.,  446. 

Camdln,  (Kipton),  Church,  466. 

Campbell,  Thos.,  biography,  41  ;  visits 
the  Western  Reserve,  147 ;  letter  to 
Rigdon,  217. 

Campbell,  A.,  messenger  to  the  M.  As- 
sociation, 31  ;  notable  sermon,  35  ;  bi- 
ography, 45  ;  visits  the  Western  Re- 
serve, 370;  before  the  skeptics,  366, 
371;  eloquence  described,  377;  ser- 
mon in  Bedford,  390 ;  visits  Youngs- 
town,  449,  450. 

Call,  Dana,  448,  467. 

Canfield,  church,  120;  established  at  the 
Center,  126. 

Carpenter,  L.  L.,  470. 

Carson,  Alex.,  267. 

Center,  Wis.,  church,  126. 

Chagrin  Falls,  church,  438. 

Chapman,  S.  S.,  466.  ib. 

Chardon,  church,  223. 

Chester,  church,  466. 

Christian  Baptist,  21,  37. 

(473) 


474 


INDEX. 


Christian  ministers  of  note,  80. 

Church,  Samuel,  284,  253. 

Ciapp,  M.  S.,  193,  195 ;  biography,  197. 

Cleveland,  church  arising,  415  ;  organ- 
ized, 420. 

Coleman,  J.  G.,  232,  464,  470. 

Collamer,  (Euclid),  church,  408. 

Collins,  Wm.,  22,  215;  biography,  225. 

Community  system,  urged  by  Rigdon, 
298. 

Cooley,  L.,  421,  444. 

Correspondence,   Dr.  E.  Parmly  and 

Prof.  Anthon,  452. 
Creed  of  the  M.  Association,  27. 
Cyrenius,  John,  465,  466. 

Death  of  Prominent  Men,  419. 

Davis,  R.  T.,  284. 

Declaration  and  address,  44. 

Deetfield,  investigation  society,  317; 
church  formed,  319;  Scott's  visit,  320. 

Denmark,  church,  466. 

Diary,  Robbin's,  142. 

Dille,  Luther,  408,  409,  415. 

Discourses,  18,  35,  320,  366,  390. 

Discussions,  Campbell  and  Walker,  18  ; 
Campbell  and  McCalla,  21 ;  Campbell 
and  Owen,  48  ;  Campbell  and  Purcell, 
48  ;  Campbell  and  Rice,  48  ;  Campbell 
and  Skinner,  48  ;  Wilcox  and  Graham, 
356:  Green  and  Davis,  385;  Hartzel 
and  Waldo,  449;  Hartzel  and  Sted- 
man,  449  ;  Hartzel  and  Hayden,  with 
Stedman  and  Locock,  439  ;  Garfield 
and  Denton,  441  ;  Campbell  and  Un- 
derbill, 417. 

Dixon,  Henry,  447,  448,  467. 

Eaglevii.le,  Church  Formed,  330. 

East  Cleveland,  church,  421. 

Eaton,  North,  church,  443. 

Eclectic  Institute,  origin  and  establish- 
ment, 260. 

Edinburg,  church,  466. 

Elyria,  church,  467. 

Errett,  Isaac,  101,  304,  440. 

Errett,  J.  W.,  101,  228,  471. 

Euclid,  (Collamer),  church,  408. 

Evangelist,  call  for,  55 ;  Scott  appointed, 
58. 

Everest,  H.  W.,  448,  470. 
Expectation  of  the  millennium,  183. 


Fairfield,  East,  Church,  iix. 
Fairfield,  North,  church,  467. 
Farmington,  church,  306. 
Ferguson,  Reuben,  149. 
Finch,  C.  P.,  317,  319,  323,  361. 
Foot,  C.  C,  338,  422,  448. 
Forward,  Chauncey,  379. 
Fowler,  church,  467. 
Franklin,  (Kent),  384. 
Freedom,  church,  159. 
Freeman,  Eld.  Rufus,  22. 

Garfield,  J.  A.,  222,  441. 
Garrettsville,  church,  260. 
Gaston,  Joseph,  83,  85. 
Gaston,  James  E.,  86,  101,  118. 
Gates,  Orrin,  231,  260. 
Geneva,  church,  467. 
Ghent,  church,  436. 
Glasier,  H.  S.,  401. 
Goodall,  Eld.  Warner,  191,  226. 
Granger,  church,  434. 
Gray,  W.  S.,  360,  453. 
Green,  A.  B.,  sketch  of,  363. 
Green,  Philander,  436. 
Green,  F.  M.,  345,  436. 
Greenville,  church,  309. 

Hamden,  Church,  468. 

Hamilton's  Corners,  church,  468. 

Hartford,  church,  468. 

Hartsgrove,  church,  468. 

Hartzel,  Jonas,  experiences  of,  313. 

Hawley,  E.  H.,  259,  349. 

Hayden,   William,   chosen  evangelist, 

174;  biography,  176. 
Hayden,  Walter  S.,  228,  442,  453. 
Hayden  brothers,  William  W.,  Warren 

L.,  and  Morgan  P.,  323. 
Henry,  John,  129;  biography,  133. 
Hillock,  Dr.  T.,  127,  283. 
Hinkley,  church,  468. 
Hinsdale,  B.  A.,  obituary  sermon  for  S- 

Ryder,  245. 
Hiram,  church,  ^244. 
Howland,  church,  469. 
Hubbard,  E.  B.,  sketch  of,  311. 
Hubbard,  church,  272. 
Hudson,  church,  384. 
Huntsburg,  church,  468. 

Incidents,  406. 
Itineracy,  system  of,  270. 


INDEX. 


475 


Jackson,  Church,  469. 
James,  J.  W.,  159,  471. 
Johnson,  J.  B.,  422. 
Jones,  Eld.  Thos.  G.,  22,  91,  267. 
Jones,  Alex.  P.,  196,  197,  215. 
Jones,  J.  H.,  267,  392,  447. 
Judd,  Chas.,  372. 

Kent,  Church,  384. 
King  brothers,  224. 
King,  Dan.  R.,  228,  229. 
Kipton,  (Camden),  church,  466. 

Lafayette,  Church,  431. 
Lanphear,  J.  W.,  433. 
Law,  sermon  on,  18. 
Leonard,  Ezra,  123,  425,  467. 
Lessons  of  our  forty  years'  experience, 
454- 

Letter*,  Campbell  Thos.,  to  Rigdon,  217  ; 
S.  Ryder,  220 ;  D.  Atwater,  239  ; 
John  Schaeffer,  324;  Hayden  to 
Campbell,  342;    Dr.  J.  P.  Robison, 

395,  396- 
Lillie,  W.  A.,  230,  466,  470. 
Little  Mountain,  church,  469. 
Lordstown,  church,  101. 
Lucy,  G.  W.,  118,  304,  461. 

Mantua,  Church,  237. 

Martin,  Eld.  Corbly,  191. 

Mentor,  church,  191. 

Mentor,  great  meeting  by  Bentley  and 

Rigdon,  192. 
McBride,  S.,  obituary,  374. 
Middlebury  and  Akron,  355;  renewed 

by  sisters,  357. 
Middlebury,  church,  recent  organization, 

469. 

Millennium,  expectation  of,  183. 
Miller,  Samuel,  207. 
Miller,  Eld.  Thos.,  137,  120,  332. 
Miller,  Eld.  William,  359. 
Minister's  meetings,  {Baptist),  38,  39, 
93.  223- 

Mitchell,  James,  Nathan,  David,  94. 
Mitchell,  James,  115. 
Moffet,  Robert,  397,  468. 
Mogadore,  church,  361. 
Montville,  church,  469. 
Moody,  Wm.,  430. 


Morgan,  (Rock-Creek),  church,  469. 
Mormonism,  advent  of,  209. 
Moss,  J.  J.,  196,  215,  410. 
Munson,  church,  229. 

Nelson,  {Baptist),  Church,  Formed, 
22,  237. 

Newburg,  church,  402  ;  reorganized,  405. 
Newcomb,  Eld.  Obadiah,  365,  367. 
Newcomb,  T.  J.,  338. 
New  Lisbon,  Association  in,  55  ;  the  plea 

opened,  72. 
Newton  Falls,  church,  136,  139. 
Nickerson,  Capt.  J.  G.,  412,  420. 
Nickerson,  Capt.  D.  P.,  413,  420. 
Niles,  church,  470. 
Norton,  church,  470. 

O'Connor,  Washington,  410. 
Orange,  North,  church  formed,  470. 
Orange,  South,  church  in,  470. 
Origin  and  establishment  of  the  Eclectic 

Institute,  260. 
Osborne,  Jacob,  biography  of,  140. 
Otis,  Dexter,  204,  469. 

Painesville,  Church  established, 
349- 

Palmyra,  church  organized,  332,  333. 
Palmyra,  South,  church,  334. 
Pern',  North,  church  arises,  346. 
Phillips,  John  T.,  284,  467. 
Phillips  church  formed,  118. 
Pinkerton,  Dr.  L.  L.,  423. 
Pompey  Street,  {Brunswick) ,  church, 
432. 

Pool,  Dr.  W.  F.,  360. 

Porter,  Nathan,  Z2,  22s. 

Pow,  George,  119. 

Preacher's  meetings,  origin  of,  405. 

Preliminary  agencies,  18. 

Quarterly  Meeting  in  Braceville, 

65. 

Quarterly   Meeting   in  East  Fairfield, 

in. 
Queries,  24. 

Raines,  Aylett,  and  the  Restoration- 
ists,  130;  memories  of  Eld.  T.  Camp- 
bell, 149;  biography,  150;  trial,  166; 
 and  Williams,  155. 


476 


INDEX. 


Randolph,  church,  340. 

Ravenna,  church,  369. 

Report  by  Scott,  evangelist,  171. 

Reeves,  H.,  119,  466,  471. 

Richardson,  Dr.  R.,  baptism  of,  335. 

Rigdon,  Sidney,  19,  209,  238. 

Rigdon,  Thomas,  92. 

Rigdon,  three  brothers,  Thomas,  John, 
and  Charles,  92. 

Robbin's  diary,  142. 

Robison,  Dr.  J.  P.,  229,  232,  294. 

Rowe,  J.  F.,  560. 

Royalton,  North,  church,  424. 

Rudolph,  Zeb,  237,  238,  260,  261. 

Russell,  church,  470. 

Ryder,  Symonds,  conversion,  238;  bi- 
ography, 245. 

Sacket,  Myron,  224. 

Salem,  church,  116 ;  re-established,  119. 

Saunders,  Abram,  348,  46S. 

Schaeffer,  John,  experiences  of,  324. 

Schooley,  Wm.,  biography,  83,  125. 

Scofield,  Edward,  23,  281,  424,  428. 

Scott,  Walter,  appointed  evangelist,  58  j 
biography,  61  ;  among  the  churches, 
65;  begins  in  New  Lisbon,  72;  in 
Canfield,  120;  in  Austintown,  129: 
report  to  the  association,  171. 

Secrest,  John,  80. 

Shalersville,  church  founded,  334. 

Sharon,  Baptist  church,  267 ;  McCleery 
family,  267  ;  church  formed,  269  ;  as- 
sociation in,  270. 

Sloan,  R.  R.,  467,  472. 

Smith,  Calvin,  biography,  284. 

Smith,  John  T.,  273. 

Solon,  church,  471. 

Southington,  church,  471. 

Stewart,  John  B.,  424. 

Stowe,  church.  382  ;  reorganized,  385. 

Streator,  L.  P.,  146. 

Streator,  M.  J.,  146,  443. 

Sullivan,  church,  472. 

System  of  itineracy,  270, 

Teagarden,  S.  B.,  119. 
Thayer,  Dr.  I.  A.,  283,  466. 
Thompson,  church,  471. 
Trumbull,  church,  471. 
Turney,  A.  S  ,  348,  467. 


Union  of  "Christians"  and  Disci- 
ples, 125. 
Union  o(  Christians  illustrated,  162. 
Union  of  principles  explained,  163. 

Van  Hokn,  127. 
Vaughn,  Tiliinghast,  355. 
Veits,  Rodney,  348. 
Violl,  E.  B.,  206. 

Wadsworth,  Church,  366. 
Waite,  Alvan,  205. 
Waite  Hill,  church,  203. 
Wakefield,  Edwin,  309,  467,  471. 
Wakefield,  E.  B.,  3:0. 
Warren,  {Baptist ,  church,  origin  of,  91. 
Warren,  siege  of,  95. 
Warrensville,  church,  472. 
Webb,  EH,  348. 
Wellsburg,  church,  31. 
West,  Eld.  Wm  ,  127,  128. 
Western  Reserve,  history  and  descrip- 
tion, 13. 
White,  H.  J.,  466,  469. 
White,  D.  J.,  466. 
White,  R.  G.,  360,  466. 
Whitacre,  John,  biography,  87. 
Willard,  Eld.  S.  R.,  470. 
Wilcox,  M.  L.,  356,  436,  471. 
Wilcox,  A.,  421. 

Williams,  E.,  sketch  of,  155;  in  Shalers- 
ville, 155;  baptism  of,  157;  in  Mentor 

195. 

Williams,  F.,  372. 
Willoughby,  church,  472. 
Windham,  church,  142. 
Winfield,  Wm.  S.,  284. 
Woodworth,  Eld.  Joshua,  127,  283, 

Yearly  Meeting  System,  origin  of, 

296. 

Yearly  meeting,  in  Austintown,  296 ;  in 
Randolph,  341 ;  reported  by  Hayden, 
342;  in  Wadsworth,  366 ;  in  Aurora, 
379;  in  Newburg,  404;  Euclid,  411, 
414 ;  in  Bedford,  389 ;  in  Richfield, 
429  ;  in  Youngstown,  450,  451. 

Youngstown,  church  established,  448. 


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$2.50.    Agents  Wanted  in  every  State  and  county. 


THE 

Genuineness  and  Authenticity 

of 

THE  GOSPELS. 

Critically  and  Historically  considered,  by  B.A.  HINSDALE,  A.M., 

President  of  Hiram  College.    276  pages,  12mo.  Cloth,  Extra.    Price,  $1.25 

From  the  many  flattering  notices  of  this  work,  we  select  the  following: 
The  book  is  able,  and  we  hope  it  will  be  widely  useful. — Herald  and 
Presbyter. 

This  book  is  well  filled  with  sound  argument  and  criticism,  and  is  of 
great  importance. — Christian  Record. 

The  work  is  scholarly,  the  argument  clear  and  forcible,  the  facts  well 
chosen  and  arranged. — The  Evangelist. 

We  have  read  it  with  almost  unmixed  satisfaction,  and  commend  it  as 
a  valuable,  popular  manual,  in  which  the  latest  materials  are  gathered  and 
digested,  are  satisfactorily  exhibited,  and  ably  reasoned  upon. — Examiner 
and  Chronicle. 

Many  will  thank  him  for  doing  the  work  so  well. — The  Advance. 

It  is  an  able  contribution  to  our  religious  literature,  and  will  be  especi- 
ally valuable  to  young  men,  who  have  not  the  original  documents  from 
which  the  author  has  so  judiciously  framed  this  able,  forcible,  and  con- 
vincing argument. — PresH  MiUigan. 

The  author  is  at  home  in  the  realm  of  historical  investigation.  His 
tastes  as  well  as  his  studies,  and  more  than  all,  his  fine  powers  of  descrip- 
tion and  honest  perseverance  in  threading  his  way  through  discouraging 
labyrinths  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion,  eminently  fit  him  for  such  a  task 
as  he  has  here  performed. — Isaac  Errett. 

We  know  nc  volume  of  equal  size  that  contains  so  many  valuable  quo- 
tations from  the  early  Christian  writers;  or  that  more  thoroughly  demol- 
ishes the  various  and  variable  hypotheses  on  which  attempts  have  been 
made  to  reduce  the  Gospel  history  to  the  level  of  myths,  legends,  apocrypha, 
or  uncertain  stories. — The  Interior. 

Sent  by  mail  to  any  address  on  receipt  of  the  retail  price. 

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Publications  of  Chase  1  Hall,  Cincinnati. 


COMPLETE  IN  ONE  VOLUME,  UNABRIDGED. 
DB.  B.  BIOHABDSON'S 

MEMOIRS  OF  ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL. 

Embracing  a  view  of  the  07-igin,  Progress,  and 
Principles  of  the  Religious  Reformation 
which  he  advocated. 

Containing   over   1200  pages,  elegantly  and   substantially  bound. 


This  edition  is  designed  to  meet  the  wishes  of  many  who  desire  to  have 
this  elegantly  written  and  valuable  Biography  in  condensed  form  and  at 
a  less  price  than  the  edition  in  two  volumes.  The  Memoirs  are  here  given 
entire,  without  abridgment,  in  one  volume. 

Preachers,  Teachers,  Students  and  others  who  desire  active  out-door 
exercise  can  do  much  good  by  helping  to  circulate  every-where  among  the 
public  this  valuable  work. 

Price  in  tine  English  Cloth,  S4.00 ;  Sheep,  Library  Style,  $5.00. 

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NEW  EDITION -NOW  READY. 
A  SCRIPTURAL  VIEW 

OF  THE 

OFFICE  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT, 


This  is  a  handsome  12mo  volume,  of  324  pages,  bound  in  fine  cloth. 
Price  $1.50. 

The  author  has  made  the  Office  of  the  Holy  Spirit  a  subject  of  study  for 
many  years,  and  gives  in  this  work  his  strongest  reasonings  and  ripest 
conclusions. 

"  It  is  a  real  thesaurus  or  treasure-house  of  sound  instruction  in  the 
things  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  The  diction  as  well  as  the  construction 
of  his  sentences  mark  Dr.  Richardson  asoneof  the  purest  and  best  write  s 
in  the  Reformation.  We  urge  the  study  of  this  book  upon  our  voting 
ministers  as  a  model  of  line  composition." — Apostolic  Times. 

"  There  is  no  one  among  us  nor  among  any  other  religious  body  better 
qualified  to  present  the  'Scriptural  View'  than  our  venerable  brother,  R. 
Richardson."—  The  Christian. 

Agexts  Waxtkp  in  every  County  in  the  United  States. 

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